Northwest Daily Snow

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By Alan Smith, Meteorologist Posted 1 year ago April 26, 2022

Active pattern continues with snow/rain showers

Summary

A cool and active pattern will continue across the PNW for the foreseeable future. On Tuesday, a storm moving across the region will result in scattered convective snow showers along with low snow levels for this time of year. The next storm will arrive on Thursday and will primarily impact Oregon with light/moderate snow. After a break on Friday, a stormy pattern is likely this weekend.

Short Term Forecast

Snow Forecasts by State/Region:

View → Washington

View → Oregon

View → Inland Northwest

Forecast for Tuesday - Tuesday Night:

A trough of low pressure is moving into the PNW on Tuesday, but rather than a widespread rain/snow event, precipitation will be more showery in nature. We could also see some thunderstorms on Wednesday afternoon as the atmosphere becomes unstable. 

Snow levels will generally range from 2,500-3,500 feet across the Cascades with 1-4 inches of new snow expected for most areas from Baker to Hood (isolated higher amounts possible under locally heavy snow showers). Further south around Mt. Bachelor, snow showers will be lighter and more isolated in nature.

Across the Inland Northwest, a cold front is moving through on Tuesday morning along with a band of more widespread and heavier showers. Snow levels will be in the 5,000-5,500 foot range initially but will fall to 4,000-5,000 feet behind the front. Isolated convective rain/snow showers will develop behind the front heading into Tuesday afternoon and evening.

Forecast for Wednesday - Wednesday Night:

We will see a relative break in the action on Wednesday with cool temps prevailing, but at least some breaks in the cloud cover are likely.

We will still see enough lingering moisture along with daytime instability from the sun heating the surface to produce some isolated to widely scattered showers over the Cascades and Idaho Panhandle Mountains. Snow levels will be similar or slightly higher compared to Wednesday, but any snowfall will be light and spotty.

Late Wednesday night, the next storm will approach from the southwest with snow/rain developing over the Southern Oregon Cascades after midnight.

Forecast for Thursday - Thursday Night:

A storm will move across Oregon during the day on Thursday with light to moderate snow developing across the Cascades and Blue Mountains. This storm will be taking a more southerly track with only light/isolated snow showers expected north of the Washington border.

As the storm moves across Oregon, energy will work its way the southern fringe of the storm and will then swing up into Northeast Oregon with heavier and more widespread snow developing across the Blue Mountains and Wallowa Mountains as a result.

Snow totals through Thursday night will range from 1-4 inches across the Oregon Cascades and 3-6 inches across the Blue and Wallowa Mountains. Snow levels will range from 4,000-5,000 feet.

Forecast for Friday:

We will see a break in the action on Friday in between storms with mostly dry conditions along with slightly warmer temperatures. That being said, it doesn't look like it will be a total bluebird day either and I wouldn't rule out some spotty/light afternoon showers over the higher ranges. 

Extended Forecast

Buckle up as we will head back into a cooler and more active pattern this weekend and throughout next week with new storms arriving almost every day. 

The first series of storms that arrive this weekend (Friday night to Sunday) will come in with snow levels ranging from 4,000-5,000 feet, so a little higher than recent storms. Higher elevation resorts in Oregon may be the best if you're looking to catch some late-season powder. 

Storms will continue to impact the PNW through at least the first week of May with below-average temperatures and lower than average snow levels for this late in the year (though it will fluctuate from day to day).

Thanks so much for reading! My last post of the season will be this Friday (4/29).

ALAN SMITH

Announcements

SKI RESORTS THAT ARE STILL OPEN:

Summit at Snoqualmie Central (closed during the week, reopening April 30-May 1)

Alpental (closed during the week, reopening April 29-May 1)

Mission Ridge (closed during the week, reopening April 30-May 1)

White Pass (closed during the week, reopening April 30-May 1)

Crystal Mountain (closed during the week, reopening April 29-May 1)

Stevens Pass (open daily through May 1)

Mt. Hood Meadows (weekends only through May 7)

Mt. Bachelor (open daily through May 29)

Timberline (open indefinitely)

 

SUMMER FORECASTS:

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About Our Forecaster

Alan Smith

Meteorologist

Alan Smith received a B.S. in Meteorology from Metropolitan State University of Denver and has been working in the private sector since 2013. When he’s not watching the weather from the office, Alan loves to spend time outdoors skiing, hiking, and mountain biking, and of course keeping an eye on the sky for weather changes while recreating.

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