Local Alert Weather Day, heavy mountain snow with snow and rain across Central Oregon
Bend, Ore (KTVZ)— A complex pattern of precipitation has arrived in the region and will provide the mountains with several inches of snow by Thursday morning. There is a Winter Storm Warning for the Cascades through Thursday mid-day, with heavy snow at times and gusty winds. Last night was the setup period, today we are expecting the main event.
Reduced visibility will be a problem traveling through the passes. The total amount of snow above 4500 feet should range from 6 – 12 more inches across the Cascades by the time Thursday morning rolls around.
The Winter Storm Warning is still in effect until tomorrow afternoon. A robust wave of snow arrives today then snow tapers off overnight. Some lingering light snow is likely across the Cascades, but the High Desert should see an end to the snow before midnight tonight.
Last night Mt. Bachelor received 6” of snow as most of the snow fell north of the resort. Timberline reported around 16”.
Today and into the evening will be a more robust round of snow as the final phase of this weather event comes to an end Thursday morning.
Snowfall is likely this afternoon across the high desert with a line of rain and snow moving through into the night. The ground is still not frozen yet so the initial hour or so of snow will melt before accumulating. Most secondary roads will be impacted by the snow with about 1 -3” of snow will be possible in Bend. Less to the north and west of Bend and more to the south with La Pine looking at 2 – 4” in town, a bit more west of town.
Travel will be impacted tonight as the wet roads may ice up in the sub-freezing temperatures. Again, secondary roads will be harder to negotiate as the volume traffic will be less and the treatment and care for secondary roads is a lower priority. Main thoroughfares will be slick as well, just not as much as the side streets. Slow down on the roads today, tonight, and tomorrow.
This will be the last of the precipitation for a while as a large ridge of high pressure builds in the west. Over the weekend the skies will be sunny and the temps hover near 50.
The region will be warming well into the 50s through at least next Wednesday, and the skies will be mostly clear aside from a brief passing shower next Monday that will be of little consequence.
Please, Stay safe.
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