Winter storm warning issued; snow expected on Cascade passes

A “robust” cold front from the Gulf of Alaska could make for miserable travel conditions in the Oregon Cascades beginning Tuesday, April 14, with 10 to 22 inches of snow falling on the passes, forecasters said.

The National Weather Service office in Portland issued a winter storm warning for elevations above 2,500 feet in eastern Lane County. The warning is in effect from 5 p.m. Tuesday until 5 a.m. Thursday. Winds gusting to 45 mph could add to travel woes, forecasters said.

David Bishop, a meteorologist with the weather service in Portland, said the heaviest snow accumulations are expected in the Cascade Mountains in Lane and Marion counties. He said snow might start to “trickle down” to the 2,000-foot level in Lane County around 6 p.m. Tuesday.

“If people are planning on traveling over the Cascades in the next 24 to 48 hours, they should be aware of road conditions,” Bishop said.

In its winter storm warning, the weather service said roads — and especially bridges and overpasses — could become slick and hazardous.

Bishop said this type of early spring storm is not unusual.

At lower elevations, rain is expected beginning Tuesday afternoon. Rainfall Wednesday could be mixed with snow in the morning, but little to no snow accumulation is expected, forecasters said. Thunderstorms are a possibility Wednesday.

Overnight temperatures Wednesday through Friday are expected to drop into the mid-30s.