Local Alert Weather Day: Heavy Mountain Snow and Gusty Winds Forecasted

Bend, Ore (KTVZ) - A Winter Storm Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for the crest of the Cascades as well as the east face, starting Tuesday evening at 5 pm and ending at 5 am Thursday.  The mountains will absorb most of the snow, but we may see an inch along 97. Mountain Passes will see wind gusts near 35 mph at times.  

A robust early spring snowstorm is expected to bring heavy mountain snow to the Cascades Wednesday. There may be some lingering snow on Thursday morning but most of the snow will be confined to the mountains. Slushy roads Thursday morning will be a concern south of Lava Butte toward Klamath County.  

Winds will accompany the snow Wednesday evening, limiting visibility and creating dangerous driving conditions. From Santiam Pass to Willamette Pass the snow amount will be around 10 before Sunrise.

If you have plans to cross the Cascades Wednesday or early Thursday, you may want to re-adjust your travel times.

This will mainly be a mountain snow event, and the high desert will see mainly cold rain. The areas south of Bend may get about an inch of snow, but not much will accumulate since the ground is not frozen. There will be some slick roads south of Bend Thursday morning, so allow extra time to get to your destination. The rest of the Tri-Counties of Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson will be dealing with chilly rain.

Although we have issued a Local Alert Weather Day for Wednesday and Thursday, high desert weather will be mostly rainy and brisk, becoming more of an inconvenience with beneficial soaking rains.

Thursday afternoon will begin the drying process and temperatures will be chilly, only reaching the upper 40s,

We bounce back temperature-wise Friday and Saturday under mostly sunny skies. Highs hit the upper 50s Friday and the middle 60s Saturday.

Please, Stay safe.

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