Snow was starting to increase this morning across the west. The Cascade Range in Oregon was beginning to see the snow pile up and it will continue through the weekend. Heavy snow is likely across most of the mountains in the west for the next several days. Totals well over a foot will be common. Winter Storm Warnings and Watches have been issued.
The mountains are not the only areas likely to see snow with this storm. Portland, Seattle, Boise, and Salt Lake City are all under warnings or advisories due to expected snowfall.
3am | Update on when snow & freezing will likely begin falling today across northwest Oregon & southwest Washington #pdxtst #pdxtraffic pic.twitter.com/YtPNgwGUYE
— NWS Portland (@NWSPortland) December 8, 2016
The latest info regarding winter weather and wind impacts for western WA today through Friday. #wawx pic.twitter.com/4umZb2itSN
— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) December 8, 2016
⚠️❄WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY Thursday. Plan for winter driving conditions on Thur evening commute! https://t.co/w0qPPZUTKx #idwx #orwx #Boise pic.twitter.com/wkBhAVep0K
— NWS Boise (@NWSBoise) December 8, 2016
Strong storm to impact nrn Utah Thu-Sat. See briefing for details: https://t.co/rNYakyuDay #utwx
— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) December 8, 2016
Seattle hasn’t seen measurable snow since 2014. It has been 11 months since Portland saw its last snowfall, and only slightly over an inch was seen all of last Winter.
Snow will continue to spread north and eastward across the west tonight into Friday. The Wasatch, Bitterroots, and eventually the Rockies will see the snow push into the region.
It will take a little longer for the cold air to arrive in the Sierra Mountains to switch the precipitation from rain to snow. Accumulations will continue to stack up across the rest of the mountain ranges in the west.
For WeatherNation: Meteorologist Mace Michaels