The forecast continues to look increasingly wintry for Southwest Washington and Western and Central Oregon heading into the Christmas weekend.
According to the National Weather Service, the combination of cold temperatures and occasional precipitation raises the possibility of snow and ice for the lowlands as early as Christmas Day.
Susan Fergus walks through a light snow falling in Raleigh Hills, Jan. 26, 2021.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
The latest forecast models are suggesting a high probability of accumulating snow as temperatures next week drop even lower. Snow could reach the lowest elevations of Southwest Washington and Northwest Oregon including the Interstate 5 and Interstate 84 corridors, as well as portions of the coast. The weather service is forecasting a 50% chance of snow in North Central Oregon Friday and Saturday with snow likely on Sunday.
Finer details such as the timing of any snow threats, or snow accumulations from any particular system, are impossible to know at this point according to the weather service.
Anyone with travel plans for Christmas Eve through next week should be prepared for winter travel conditions and be prepared for delays.
More and more weather models suggest enough cold air and moisture will overlap across the region to produce accumulating snow to near or at the valley floor beginning Saturday night and continuing into Monday. #pdxtst #orwx #wawx (1/6) pic.twitter.com/P2pFnQeuVA
— NWS Portland (@NWSPortland) December 23, 2021