Snow expected in Northwest passes this week

Oregon Public Broadcasting | By Jeff Thompson

Published December 7, 2021 at 5:27 PM PST

FILE PHOTO: A seasonal business offers chain-up help as motorists put snow chains on their tires in November 2019 before driving over snowy Santiam Pass, Ore.

If you’re planning to travel to the coast or Cascades later this week, prepare for winter driving conditions. The snow level starts to drop in Northwest Oregon Wednesday morning.

The National Weather Service said that by Wednesday night the snow level could fall to around 1,500 feet in Oregon. That means anyone driving through Cascade or Coast mountain range passes should expect snowy roadways.

Meteorologist Tyler Kranz said the snow should stay at about that 1,500-foot level through Friday. But at times it could get as low as a thousand feet, just barely reaching Portland’s West Hills.

“Could see some wet flakes coming down…,” Kranz said. “At those elevations we don’t expect actual accumulations at this time, unless it’s just, you know, a dusting on grassy surfaces.

He said the snow will melt at lower elevations as we’re getting into the weekend, so driving conditions should improve on the passes. And between now and then, the mountain resorts could see a couple more feet of snow.