By Rod Hill on 2011-02-28
If your plans call for travel in the coming days, please check weather conditions. Storm fronts Monday, Wednesday and Saturday are expected. A strong jet core of 150 mph will feed heavy rain and mountain snow Monday. A vigerous low pressure center depending on it's track, could produce very strong winds at the coast Wednesday. Here is what to expect this week:
Monday: 2" of rain at the coast with early 65 mph wind gusts. The valley could see an inch of rain, wind gusts to 45 mph will be possible early morning. The snow level will lower from 2,000' to 1,200' during the day. High Coast Range passes will see afternoon snow. The Cascades will see 14-20" of snow along with possible wind gusts of 100 mph at upper elevations. 40 mph wind gusts at pass levels would produce blizzard conditions and possibly force road closures.
Tuesday: Calmer day but still very wet. An inch of rain at the coast, .50" or more across the valley and another foot plus of snow on Mt. Hood. The snow level will rise from 1,500' to 4,000 feet.
Wednesday: Tracking a vigerous low pressure center. If the low nears the coast, very high winds of 85 mph and higher will be possible and perhaps widespread into the Coast Range. More rain for the valley. Gorge east winds could spike 45-55 mph in reponse to the low pressure center.
Rest of the week: Wet at times, calmer weather. Snow levels near 1,000' Thursday, 2,000' Friday.
Forecast charts show wet and cooler weather than normal through at least March 15th!
Weather Service Snow Report