Winter storm warning issued for Oregon mountain roads, flooding possible later this week

ONE winter storm warning has been issued for Oregon’s Cascade Mountain passes, while snow is also expected in the foothills and Coast Range from Sunday into Monday, likely making travel challenging.

Mountain snow is expected to continue Tuesday and Wednesday before heavy rain could bring flooding later in the week, according to the National Weather Service in Portland.

Heaviest snow on Cascade Pass

From 10 to 30 inches of snow is forecast at the highest Cascade Range passes, including Santiam Pass (Highway 20), Willamette Pass (Highway 58) and the Government Camp area of ​​Mount Hood (Highway 26/35).

The storm warning is in place from 10 a.m. Sunday until 10 p.m. Monday. Winds can gust up to 45 mph.

“Travel can be very difficult,” wrote the National Weather Service. “Flat blowing snow can significantly reduce visibility.”

Above the passes, in picks above 5,500 feet at places like Timberline Lodge, 3 to 4 feet of snow is possible.

Another 4 to 10 inches of snow appears possible on the pass Tuesday.

Snow also affects the Cascade Foothills, Coast Range

Lower roadways in the Cascade Foothills and Coast Range could also see snow late Sunday night into Monday.

A winter weather advisory issued for the Coast Range — affecting roads between the Willamette Valley and the Coast — calls for five inches of wet snow above 2,000 feet and 11 inches above 2,500 feet.

The advice is in place from Sunday at 16.00 to Monday at 10 p.m.

In the Cascade Foothills, near places like Marion Forks, 2-8 inches of snow is expected above 2,000 feet, while 14 inches is expected above 2,500 feet.

Possible flooding later this week

In addition to steady rainfall across western Oregon early in the week, heavier rains starting Tuesday evening and continuing into Friday could bring some flooding, The NWS said in a hydrologic alert.

Current forecasts project 5 to 8 inches of rain for the Coast, Coast Range and Cascades, with 2.5 to 4 inches for locations in the interior valley, including Portland, Salem and Eugene, the NWS said.

“Rivers will rise beginning Wednesday. Small streams and fast-acting rivers could see flooding as early as Wednesday evening or Thursday, with slow-acting rivers potentially flooding this weekend,” the NWS wrote.

“Heavy rainfall will also cause water to pool in low-lying areas and other areas with poor drainage.”

Snow levels are expected to remain fairly high and rise above pass levels Wednesday and Thursday.

Zach Urness has been an outdoor reporter in Oregon for 16 years and hosts Explore Oregon Podcast. To support his work, subscribe to the Statesman Journal. Urness is the author of “Best hikes with kids: Oregon” and “Hiking in Southern Oregon.” He can be reached at [email protected] or (503) 399-6801. Find him on Twitter at @ZachsORoutdoors.

This article originally appeared in the Salem Statesman Journal: Winter storm warning issued for Oregon mountain passes and roads