Oregon’s winter weather mellows, but is sticking around this week

By Alex Hasenstab (OPB)
Feb. 27, 2023 5:20 p.m.

The chance of rain and snow is present nearly everyday this week, but snow is not expected to accumulate.

The National Weather Service says slush and snow is possible nearly every day this week in the Willamette Valley, with Wednesday being the only dry day in the near-term forecast.

But any winter weather this week will be far less severe than last week when a near-record 10.8 inches of snow dropped on the Portland area and stuck around for days.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:

Noah Alviz, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said a low-pressure system will bring rain, slush and potentially snow to the Willamette Valley on Monday night.

“We’re expecting minimal accumulations of snow in the valley of less than an inch,” Alviz said. “But we have higher accumulations expected for places that are above 500 feet, where they can get at least an inch to an inch-and-a-half, and that includes the entire I-5 corridor.”

THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:

Temperatures in the Willamette Valley are anticipated to hover around freezing in the early morning hours Tuesday. A chance of rain, slush and light snow will remain throughout the rest of the week.

“The best chance for calmer, drier conditions will be on Wednesday,” Alviz said.

While Wednesday will be drier, the morning lows in the region are anticipated to be the coldest of the entire week; between 23 and 27 degrees.

“We are going to have another front coming in on Thursday,” Alviz said. “So, the winter weather is not going away anytime soon.”

Last week’s storm that pummeled the Portland metro area and created commuting chaos happened as the National Weather Service was largely forecasting much milder conditions. This time around, Alviz emphasized that forecasts can change quickly.

“I advise everyone to keep checking for forecast updates and then also winterize your vehicle, have an emergency supply kit in your vehicle in case you have to drive through, or get stuck in, winter conditions,’ he said.

Eastern Oregon is forecast to have a winter storm with 6-8 inches of snow expected above 3000 feet and wind gusts up to 35mph. Southern Oregon could also see heavy snow and gusty winds, especially above 1000 feet.

Caleigh Feeny, left, and Matthew Baumgartner walk their dog Whiskey in southwest Portland, Feb. 23, 2023. Heavy snowfall began on Wednesday afternoon, making it the second-snowiest day ever recorded in the city.

Myron Lee shovels the sidewalks in the Sylvan Hills area as Portland area digs out on Feb. 23, 2023. Heavy snowfall began on Wednesday afternoon, making it the second-snowiest day ever recorded in the city.

A driver gets a push after being stuck in the snow, in southwest Portland, Feb. 23, 2023. Heavy snowfall began on Wednesday afternoon, making it the second-snowiest day ever recorded in the city.

A pair of cross country skiers ski through Sellwood Park in Portland, Feb. 23, 2023.

Rockaway Beach, Ore., on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. Heavy snow coated much of Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington Wednesday afternoon and overnight into Thursday morning.

A woman uses a blanket to stay warm as she battles the cold and snow on Feb. 23, 2023 in the far west side of Portland. Heavy snowfall began on Wednesday afternoon, making it the second-snowiest day ever recorded in the city.

Greg Palin shovels the sidewalk in front of his wife’s business, a yarn shop called Close Knit on Northeast Alberta Street, in Portland on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. A snow storm covered the metro area in several inches of snow, making roads icy and leading to several school and business closures.

TriMet buses pause on any icy patch of of road at Northeast Alberta Street and 15th Avenue Northeast in Portland on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. A snow storm covered the metro area in several inches of snow, making roads icy and leading to several school and business closures.

Packed ice on Milwaukie Avenue in Sellwood, Feb. 23, 2023.

Christopher Gorton carries home groceries after walking to the store in southwest Portland, Feb. 23, 2023. Heavy snowfall began on Wednesday afternoon, making it the second-snowiest day ever recorded in the city.

A smile is drawn onto the windshield on a snow-covered car in southwest Portland, Feb. 23, 2023. Heavy snowfall began on Wednesday afternoon, making it the second-snowiest day ever recorded in the city.

Portland area digs out on Feb. 23, 2023, after heavy snowfall began on Wednesday afternoon, making it the second-snowiest day ever recorded in the city.

Portland area digs out on Feb. 23, 2023, after heavy snowfall began on Wednesday afternoon, making it the second-snowiest day ever recorded in the city.

Portland area digs out on Feb. 23, 2023, after heavy snowfall began on Wednesday afternoon, making it the second-snowiest day ever recorded in the city. A person walks through deep snow in the Sylvan Hills area in SW Portland.

Portland area digs out on Feb. 23, 2023, after heavy snowfall began on Wednesday afternoon, making it the second-snowiest day ever recorded in the city.

Portland area digs out on Feb. 23, 2023, after heavy snowfall began on Wednesday afternoon, making it the second-snowiest day ever recorded in the city.

A bird is fluffed up for warmth, as Portland area digs out on Feb. 23, 2023. Heavy snowfall began on Wednesday afternoon, making it the second-snowiest day ever recorded in the city.

In this contributed photo, a view from Newport, Feb. 23, 2023. The snow postponed the city’s seafood and wine festival. Organizers say it will kick off on Friday and run through Sunday.

In the Outer Kerns area in Portland, Zephyr Anderson takes advantage of a snow day, Feb. 23, 2023. Heavy snowfall began on Wednesday afternoon, making it the second-snowiest day ever recorded in the city.

Snow covers South Portland and downtown Milwaukie. Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023

Drivers creep along NW Naito Parkway near Burnside Bridge in Portland, Feb. 22, 2023. Commutes throughout the Portland area were hampered by heavy snowfall, Feb. 22, 2023.

A Catlin Gabel school bus was stranded near the Multnomah Athletic Club in Portland, Feb. 22, 2023.

Tanner Springs Park in the Pearl District, under a blanket of snow. Feb. 22, 2023.

A TriMet bus is stuck in the roadway, facing south in the northbound lanes, near the intersection of NE 82nd and Sandy. Commutes throughout the Portland area were hampered by heavy snowfall, Feb. 22, 2023.

Traffic was inching along on Macadam Avenue in Portland, Feb. 22, 2023.

In the Sylvan Hills area of Southwest Portland, a driver receives some help getting up Barnes Road. Feb. 22, 2023.

At Hosford Middle School in SE Portland, there was enough snow for Mia, left, and Xander Livingston-Edwards to get started on making a snowman, Feb. 22, 2023.

A truck sits in the middle of the roadway after attempting to climb NW Cornell Rd. near the intersection of NW Miller Rd. in Southwest Portland, Feb. 22, 2023.

People slip on the snow-covered sidewalks near Tanner Springs Park in the Pearl District, Feb. 22, 2023.

As the snow fell around 3 p.m., Portland International Airport crews worked to clear the snow from the gates, Feb. 22, 2023.

Sellwood River Park, Feb. 23, 2023.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:
THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR: