Cold Storm Coming for the Northwest

A storm now in the northern Gulf of Alaska will drop southeast and strengthen over the next two days. Rain will develop west of the Cascades Friday night as showers occur in many areas east of the Cascades. With the passage of the cold front Friday night into Saturday morning, snow levels will drop, gusty winds are likely, especially in the mountains and in central and eastern Washington and Oregon, and outside of the mountains, scattered showers are likely both days of the weekend.

If headed into or through any mountain areas, know ahead of time that snow levels are likely to drop to 2,000 feet in the Washington Cascades to 3,000 feet in the Oregon Cascades. Snow will levels drop to around 3,000 feet, or a little less, east of the Cascades. Snow accumulations are likely in all mountain areas including the mountains of eastern Oregon. At times the snow level will reach the valley floor above 2,000 feet both days of the weekend though at these levels I do not expect any snow accumulation.

Even Monday, colder-than-normal and unsettled weather will continue with scattered rain and snow showers with snow levels remaining unseasonably low. It looks like spring is taking a spring break and headed south for a while.