The National Weather Service has issued a rare blizzard warning for Oregon’s Cascade mountain roads and passes due to projections of extreme amounts of snow and high winds. The warning, which is set to take effect at 4 a.m. Tuesday, covers the Cascade mountain passes including Santiam Pass, Willamette Pass, and the Mount Hood area. Up to 4 feet of snow and winds ranging from 55 to 75 mph could create whiteout conditions, posing a danger to even the most experienced drivers. The combination of heavy snow and strong winds could bring down tree limbs, leading to power outages, and make the outdoors hazardous for the unprepared.
The extremely heavy snow and strong winds could result in whiteout conditions, resulting in poor visibility and dangerous conditions for drivers. The National Weather Service has warned that the storm could bring down tree limbs and cause power outages, making the outdoors hazardous for those who are not prepared. While the heaviest snow is forecast above 3,000 feet, snow levels are expected to drop to 1,500 to 2,000 feet by midday Tuesday, potentially impacting mountain roads in the Coast Range and Cascade Foothills.
The storm is also expected to impact driving on Interstate 5 in southern Oregon, and snow is forecast to potentially reach Sexton Summit and impact Siskiyou Summit. The upside is that the storm should bring Oregon’s mountain snowpack nearly up to normal levels after an extremely small amount of snow earlier this winter, and it is expected to allow all Oregon ski areas to open during the coming week, despite the hazardous travel conditions that may result.
