NWS: Snow Likely For Portland Area, But Don't Expect Much

Related: Oregon Coast Gets Snow, Multnomah County Nears Severe Weather Alert

UPDATE (Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019 at 8:30 a.m.) — Forecasters say snow is likely for Portland and other parts of Oregon, beginning as early as Sunday night. But don't expect to see more than a few flakes in the Portland metro region.

The National Weather Service says a cold air mass is heading into the region Sunday — bringing with it a chance for snow. Will Ahue, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Portland office, said the chance of snow for the Willamette Valley is spotty at best.

“Really nothing’s changed a whole lot with the forecast over the past couple of days. We’re still expecting some spotty accumulations in the valleys and lowlands," Ahue said. "But don't be surprised if people see a snowflake or two falling [Monday] morning."

According to Ahue, even if snow falls in Portland and the surrounding region, don't expect it to stick. We've been relatively warm this winter, he said, and that means the ground won't be cold enough for snow to pile up.

The winter weather pattern is also extending down into southwest Oregon, according to Jeremiah Pyle, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Portland office. Medford is facing a similar forecast.

“Our Medford, Oregon, forecast office is dealing with a lot of the same things that we are here. It’s a marginal lowland snow event for them as well,” Pyle said. “So, there will be some concerns down there.”

Even though the forecast is tentative, Portland Bureau of Transportation spokesperson Dylan Rivera said the agency is beginning to prepare for winter weather conditions.

“In preparation for some mix of snow or icy roads on Sunday night through Tuesday, we are putting plows on trucks today, Friday, so we can save time Sunday night,” Rivera said. “We’re making sure our equipment is ready to go. We’re making sure our people are ready to go. We have already notified some of our crews that we’ll need them Sunday night and additional crews before dawn on Monday.”

“That is all preparing for the worst and hoping for the best,” he said.

Rivera said, regardless of snow or not, there will be a potential for wet roads to freeze Sunday night through Tuesday.

“That could create just slick conditions generally and especially in areas of high elevations,” he said.

PBOT is focused on keeping main roads as clear as possible for emergency response vehicles and public transportation such as TriMet buses, Rivera said, but he notes the traveling public also needs to do their own preparation, such as figuring out alternative routes ahead of traveling

“They need to think right now about what they can do to prepare themselves or family members in case they need to get to work or school Monday, without driving potentially,” Rivera said.

Rivera also noted that people in the Portland area should be aware of the varying elevation throughout the city.

“If you are living and working at sea level, you may not experience very much of an event at all next week, but if you live in Washington County or in central Portland and have to travel through the West Hills, you should understand that most of the West Hills are at 500 feet or above sea level. All of NW Skyline is at 1,000 feet or above,” he said. “So, you will encounter different conditions in those locations than you will in other parts of the region.”

PBOT will not be de-icing or plowing narrow, residential streets, but rather larger, more frequently traveled areas. A map of the snow plow, salting and anti-icing routes can be found here.

OPB's Bryan M. Vance contributed to this story.