Increasing rain over the next 1-2 hours as the cold front arrives. South winds are gusty in the region from the coast to the valley, 15-30 mph and will pick up in the coming hours in the gorge. A WINTER STORM WARNING is in effect for the Cascades through 10:00 a.m. Monday for heavy snow of 12-18 inches, including a foot at pass level. Snow levels will lower from 4,000’ mid-morning to 2,000’ this afternoon behind the cold front.

TODAY: Steady temps most locations as colder air behind this morning’s cold front arrives. Winds will veer to the northwest through mid-morning and ease to 10-25 mph during the day. A period of increasing to steady rain through mid-morning will break into showers or occasional rain during the day. Again steady temps mostly in the mid 40s this afternoon all areas.

TONIGHT: Clouds, likely rain showers continue with northwest winds calming to 5-20 mph Low temps will drop into the mid to upper 30s from the coast to the valley and closer to freezing in the gorge where a transition to snow showers is expected. Light snow accumulations Hood River to The Dalles will be possible.

MONDAY: Numerous morning showers will taper off into just a few scattered showers during the afternoon hours. High temps will hold in the low to mid 40s and closer to 40 degrees in the gorge. Winds will be northwest 5-15 mph, breezy to 25 in the gorge and at the beach. Early morning snow showers in the gorge will be a wet mix during the day.

MONDAY NIGHT- TUESDAY: All looks dry Monday night and Tuesday morning with breaks in the cloud cover leading to foggy pockets as winds calm. Early temps will be freezing to near freezing in most areas. During the day Tuesday, clouds thicken ahead of a warm front. Light rain develops at the coast around noon and as early as 2:00 pm in the valley. Daytime highs will be 40-45 from the coast to the valley and upper 30s to 40 in the gorge. The warm front with a south breeze Tuesday night will hold surface temps mid to upper 30s in the valley with rain overnight and rain on Wednesday.

The first chance of snow showers and possible light coverage in the valley will be Thursday morning and again Friday early morning and Saturday morning. All 3 instances look to be rain showers during the day and snow showers at night and early morning, melting as daytime temps warm into the 40s.

The map below shows the Winter Storm Warning over the Cascades, issued by NWS.

Rod Hill