Northwestern US to face additional bouts of snow into early week
The cold, stormy pattern that has set up across the northwestern United States will bring more rounds of snow and slick travel into the final days of February.
The pattern will continue to be a boon for winter sports enthusiasts and the ski industry, but may pose challenges for those traveling on the roadways.
“As a chilly air mass and moisture stay situated over the Northwest over the next few days, a continuation of the recent snowy weather will be the result,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Ryan Adamson said.
A bit of snow made a return to the Seattle and Portland, Oregon, metro areas this past Friday.
With milder conditions moving in along the coast, mainly rain is in store for both of these cities into Monday.
Another wave of moisture will sweep southward at the close of the weekend.
Mainly liquid precipitation, with perhaps a few snowflakes mixed in, is expected along the Interstate 5 corridor through Sunday.
“Heavy snow will fall in the Cascades as there will be more moisture with this storm, so motorists may need chains and/or snow tires if traveling over the passes of Washington and Oregon on Sunday,” Adamson said.
This includes I-90’s Snoqualmie Pass, U.S. Route 2’s Stevens Pass and Siskiyou Summit along I-5.
Into Monday, total snowfall over the highest peaks of the Washington and Oregon Cascades will be measured in feet. The Bitterroots will also get a fresh layer of powder from the storms.
A couple driving through Echo, Oregon came upon a severe windstorm that brought a bunch of tumbleweeds onto the road.
“By Monday, snow will drop southward into Northern and central California,” Adamson said.
While the snowfall will make for difficult driving conditions over I-80’s Donner Pass, most residents of California will be delighted to see the snow as concerns for the water supply in coming months mount.
“More bouts of snow and rain showers will be seen in the Northwest through much of the week,” Adamson said.
The Pacific storm track later in the week during the first days of March may favor additional rain and mountain snow reaching Northern, central and perhaps even Southern California.
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