Weather

Rain and mountain snow in Oregon and Southwest Washington expected through early next week

By Jeff Thompson (OPB)
Jan. 29, 2025 8:52 p.m.

Low-elevation snow is possible along the Willamette Valley and the Southwest Washington lowlands this weekend. But National Weather Service meteorologists said the travel impact on roadways below 1,500 feet would likely be minimal.

Rain is expected to return to Oregon and Southwest Washington by Friday morning and last at least through early next week, according to the National Weather Service.

Low-elevation snow is possible along the Willamette Valley and the Southwest Washington lowlands this weekend. But as of Wednesday morning, NWS meteorologists said the impact of that precipitation on roadways below 1,500 feet would likely be minimal.

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Check the latest forecast from NWS Portland

Snow levels will fluctuate over the next few days, dropping from about 4,500 feet on Friday morning to as low as 1,000 feet on Saturday. The most likely outcome for the weekend will be several inches of snow in the Cascades and foothills, including the mountain passes, and rain at lower elevations, according to the forecast.

“Sunday into early next week is where the forecast becomes more uncertain, at least for low-elevation snow,” the area forecast discussion reads. “The general consensus is that lowland rain and mountain snow will continue, and colder air will begin to filter into the area.”

Due to the uncertainty about the amount and elevation of snow in the coming days, coupled with the rise in temperature, NWS has not issued any weather advisories for the weekend. Meteorologists said people with plans to travel at higher elevations in the coming days should continue to keep an eye on t-e forecast.

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