Portland, OR – A powerful series of winter storms is set to bring heavy snowfall to the Oregon and Washington Cascades through Friday, prompting warnings from the National Weather Service (NWS) in Portland. Officials have issued a Winter Weather Advisory through Tuesday evening, followed by a Winter Storm Watch from Wednesday afternoon through Friday night.
According to the NWS, the first front will bring between 3 to 8 inches of snow to affected areas by Tuesday evening. A stronger system arriving Wednesday through Friday could dump up to 20 inches of snow at elevations above 4,500 feet, with higher peaks potentially seeing up to 35 inches.
Communities impacted include Government Camp, Santiam Pass, McKenzie Pass, and Willamette Pass in Oregon, along with Larch Mountain and Mt. St. Helens in Washington. Roads, particularly bridges and overpasses, are expected to become hazardous.
Officials urge travelers to winterize their vehicles and carry emergency kits. Those driving in affected areas should monitor road conditions via Oregon’s TripCheck (511) and Washington’s WSDOT updates.
The NWS reports a 60-80% chance of warning-level snowfall from Thursday through Friday, as back-to-back storm systems intensify. More updates will follow as conditions evolve.
