PORTLAND, Oregon — A thick low cloud deck today will produce patchy drizzle and or light showers. Mild temps will warm Portland and Salem into the 50s with south winds to 10 mph. Snow levels on this Tuesday will hold near to just above 6,000 feet, meaning Cascade passes are wet and clear.
A cold front early Wednesday morning ushers in colder air, bringing rain to the valley and dropping snow levels down to 1,500' by Thursday morning. Cascade passes will see developing snow cover Wednesday afternoon through the day Thursday. In face, high passes over the Coast Range may also see snow accumulation.
Valley likely rain at times Wednesday and Thursday tapers off for a mostly dry Friday. Weather models show a big Saturday soak with steady rain in Portland all day and possibly more than an inch of total rainfall. Rain at times is in the Sunday forecast. South valley winds Saturday will be breezy and possible gusting to 60 mph and higher along the coast.
Feet of snow will pile up in the mountains beginning tomorrow and continuing into next week. If you plan on travelling over the Cascades, Coast Range or Siskiyous, make sure you’re ready for winter driving conditions and snowy roads.
Meteorologist Rod Hill
