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Oregon Snow Records: 47 Inches in One Day, What About 2026-27?
Portland, OR – Oregon's winter history includes extraordinary snowfall, with some locations recording nearly four feet of snow in a single day. As winter 2026 27 approaches, those records demonstrate
By Owen Prescott · 2026-10-21T12:56:10.749Z
Portland, OR – Oregon's winter history includes extraordinary snowfall, with some locations recording nearly four feet of snow in a single day. As winter 2026 27 approaches, those records demonstrate why even warmer than average winters can still produce powerful storms across the Pacific Northwest.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Hood River Experiment Station in Hood River County recorded 47 inches of snow Jan. 9, 1980, the highest one day measurement in the supplied Oregon county records.
Historical snowfall extremes extend well beyond Mount Hood, with significant accumulations recorded throughout the Cascades, Coast Range and southern Oregon.
Oregon's 10 Biggest Single Day Snowfall Events The following records represent the 10 highest measurements from separate calendar dates in NOAA's county level database. Multiple counties reporting snowfall on the same date are grouped together rather than counted as separate events.
1. Jan. 9, 1980: Hood River Experiment Station, Hood River County — 47.0 inches . Bonneville Dam in Multnomah County recorded 39 inches on the same day. 2. Feb. 2, 1916: Summit Guard Station, Clackamas County — 41.0 inches . 3. March 15, 1912: Musick, Douglas County — 40.0 inches . 4. March 1, 2012: Laurel Mountain, Polk County — 39.0 inches . 5. Jan. 28, 1971: Crater Lake National Park Headquarters, Klamath County — 37.0 inches . 6. Jan. 31, 1937: Corvallis Water Bureau, Benton County — 36.0 inches . 7. Dec. 11, 1919: Siskiyou Climate Station, Jackson County — 36.0 inches . 8. Jan. 7, 1912: Ortley, Wasco County — 34.8 inches . 9. Jan. 31, 1969: Sexton Summit, Josephine County — 34.1 inches . 10. Jan. 6, 1912: Grass Valley, Sherman County — 33.0 inches . Why Oregon's Snowfall History Matters Oregon's diverse geography creates dramatically different winter weather conditions.
The Cascade Mountains regularly receive heavy snowfall when moisture rich Pacific storms encounter freezing temperatures at higher elevations.
Meanwhile, Portland and the Willamette Valley generally experience milder winter conditions, although occasional Arctic outbreaks can bring disruptive snow and ice.
The January 1980 records demonstrate how extreme snowfall can affect both the Cascade foothills and the Columbia River Gorge.
Heavy mountain snowfall can also create avalanche hazards, dangerous driving conditions and highway closures along Interstate 84, U.S. Highway 26 and other major routes.
What Could This Mean for Winter 2026 27? El Niño can influence winter temperatures, precipitation patterns and storm tracks across the Pacific Northwest, sometimes favoring warmer conditions and reduced mountain snowpack.
However, El Niño does not eliminate the possibility of powerful winter storms.
Individual atmospheric systems can still transport significant Pacific moisture into Oregon, producing heavy snowfall when sufficiently cold air is present.
Historical snowfall records cannot predict whether winter 2026 27 will bring another record breaking storm. They demonstrate that even a relatively mild winter can contain dangerous, high impact snowfall events.
For Oregon residents, especially those traveling through mountain passes, the message is clear: A warmer winter does not necessarily mean a winter without significant snow.