Rain & Ice from the Northwest to the Northern Plains

news image
Special Stories
19 Nov 2020 9:00 AM
A winter storm will continue to impact portions of the West and northern Plains over the next 24 hours. Rain, snow, and some freezing rain are expected due to a deepening upper-level trough which will lift north into the weekend. The pattern looks to stay active with another round of moisture for the end of the weekend in the Pacific Northwest and possibly into the Southern Rockies.

Forecast

Rain and snow will continue to move through the Northwest, tapering off later this evening. A cold front dropping into the Upper Midwest and northern Plains will bring mixed precipitation, which will create difficult travel. Overnight into Friday morning, the precipitation will gradually taper off. A weak wave will move into the Pacific Northwest, with some light rain and snow.

Alerts

Winter weather alerts have been issued from the Cascades through interior areas of Idaho near Sun Valley into Montana. The mountain ranges will pick up 7" to 14" of snow. The Winter Weather Advisories of Washington and Oregon are for snow expected above 3500 feet. Some of these accumulations may get up to 8"  to 20", with the highest amounts over 5000 ft. The foothills and lower elevations may see a few inches of snow, but it will happen within a short duration of time so this could impact travel. Winter Weather Advisories have also been issued from Montana to Minnesota. A couple inches of snow are likely, along with a glaze of freezing rain through tonight (Thursday night). Snow will continue to pile up in feet throughout the mountains. Once this event is over this is likely how much we will have accumulated: When the system pushed through California, actual reports have come in topped out at more than a foot in portions of the Sierra Nevada range: This page will be updated as additional forecast data is made available. The latest warnings are always scrolling on WeatherNation across the bottom of our live broadcasts and live streams.
All Weather News
More
Mario Sends Tropical Moisture to California, Flooding Possible

Mario Sends Tropical Moisture to California, Flooding Possible

While the Atlantic has been relatively quiet

18 Sep 2025 11:00 AM
Gabrielle Churns in the Atlantic, Another Tropical Wave Emerges

Gabrielle Churns in the Atlantic, Another Tropical Wave Emerges

We are now a week after the climatological pe

18 Sep 2025 10:50 AM
Storms Slide Down the Plains

Storms Slide Down the Plains

CENTRAL U.S - A trough that came in from the

18 Sep 2025 10:20 AM
Fall Color Starting To Show in Parts of the Lower 48

Fall Color Starting To Show in Parts of the Lower 48

Grab the pumpkin spice and apple cider donuts

18 Sep 2025 9:15 AM
Florida Rainfall: Nuisance or Beneficial?

Florida Rainfall: Nuisance or Beneficial?

The dry time has been a little hard to enjoy

18 Sep 2025 2:25 AM
Northern Lights Close Out the Weekend For Many

Northern Lights Close Out the Weekend For Many

Did you see them? Many might have had better

15 Sep 2025 10:30 PM
Severe Storms Look More Likely This Afternoon

Severe Storms Look More Likely This Afternoon

A strong upper-level trough along with monsoo

14 Sep 2025 7:30 PM