Cold storm to bring snow, ice dangers to Northwest

AccuWeather meteorologists are tracking a storm that will collide with a fresh outbreak of frigid air and set the stage for a round of snow, ice and slippery travel along the Interstate 5 corridor in Oregon. Dangerous travel conditions can extend farther inland and southward, where snow may be measured in feet.

The region has endured a tumultuous week of heavy snowfall and difficult travel through the passes as multiple storms have moved into the Northwest. These storms have gone on to produce round after round of blizzard conditions, severe thunderstorms and flooding rainfall farther to the east across the United States.

“A frigid air mass sinking into the area will encounter the latest storm system moving in from the Pacific into Saturday night. This will allow for snow down to unusually low levels over much of the Northwest,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Heather Zehr said.

Cold storm to bring snow, ice dangers to Northwest

On Thursday night, Seattle was cold and moist enough for a bit of snow to fall. There were a few reports of around a coating to 1.5 inches of snow to the east and north of the city.

“There will be too much dry air in place in the coldest areas over northern Washington and Idaho, so they will avoid any snow or ice with the latest storm,” Zehr said. Despite a lack of winter precipitation, it will be cold in Seattle through the weekend, with highs 15-25 degrees Fahrenheit below the historical average in the upper 40s.

AccuWeather meteorologists say the latest storm will bring wintry weather to Portland, Oregon, which has largely missed out on any snow so far this month.

“Cold air will drain out of the Columbia Gorge into Portland, Oregon. At the height of the storm Saturday into Saturday night, mostly snow and sleet will fall, but there is concern for a period of freezing rain as well,” Zehr said. In the city, 1-3 inches of snow and sleet can accumulate, which is two to six times the historical average of 0.50 of an inch for the month.

Travel is likely to turn treacherous along the Interstate 5 corridor from Portland to just north of Medford, Oregon. The most significant icing impacts are expected to be centered over Salem, Corvallis and Eugene.

“In the Willamette Valley, the cold air will be trapped in place while warm air surges overhead. This is likely to lead to a longer period of freezing rain that will create hazardous travel. A potentially significant buildup of ice can cause tree damage and trigger power outages,” Zehr said.

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Precipitation is expected to take the form of snow for the duration of the storm from the Oregon Cascades and California’s Sierra Nevada eastward into southern Idaho, northern Nevada and Utah. The highest snow totals of 2-4 feet are likely to occur in the mountains to the west and southwest of Bend, Oregon.

The storm track will promote accumulating snow even in the valley areas that are typically sheltered from sizable snowfall accumulations.

“Interior areas will receive the heaviest snow Saturday afternoon into Saturday night, and blizzard conditions are possible over southern Idaho as that moves through there Saturday night,” Zehr said.

Boise, Idaho, will add to their impressive snowfall amounts this month. Typically, in January, the city receives 5.3 inches. As of Jan. 12, they have nearly doubled that amount with 10.3 inches so far.

Farther southeast, Salt Lake City is running ahead of pace for snowfall this month, picking up 8.7 inches as of Jan. 12, compared to the month-to-date historical average of 4.8 inches. The heaviest snowfall and most difficult travel for that region is likely to occur Saturday night, with a few snow showers lingering on Sunday.

A quieter period of weather is expected to follow this winter onslaught from Sunday into the early part of the new week as an area of high pressure builds in. However, the break could be short-lived as more storminess can arrive in the region from the Pacific toward the middle and end of the week.

Meanwhile, the energy from the storm that will move into the Northwest early this weekend may produce snow and ice across the South and East next week.

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