An upper low pressure system, a weak to moderate atmospheric river, and the development of a stationary front across the area resulted in widespread moderate to heavy snow across the mountains and lower elevations of eastern Oregon and southeastern Washington.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS PDT wrote it up.
An upper low pressure system, a weak to moderate atmospheric river, and the development of a stationary front across the area resulted in widespread moderate to heavy snow across the mountains and lower elevations of eastern Oregon and southeastern Washington.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Pendleton, OR wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 3, 3:15 PM PST, 1 hour 45 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pendleton OR
315 PM PST Mon Feb 3 2025
.SHORT TERM...Today through Wednesday night...
Key Messages:
1. Widespread snow tonight ramping back up tomorrow morning
*Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories Issued*
2. Cooling trend through Tuesday
Current radar and visible satellite imagery showing light returns
stretching southwest to northeast across the area as light snow
begins to impact our southern zones under mostly cloudy to
overcast skies. This is in response to the upper level low
pressure system that is parked offshore and will be driving
through the area later in the week. The upper level system has
tapped into sub-tropical moisture that has been focused over
northern California and is slowly pushing north tonight, then
again returns tomorrow morning through Wednesday morning before
dissipating as the upper level system weakens. Significant
snowfall is anticipated across the region as Winter Storm Warnings
have been issued over the John Day-Ochoco Highlands and Wallowa
County through 10 AM Wednesday. Snow amounts over Wallowa county
are expected to reach between 5 and 10 inches and 4 to 8 inches
are likely over the John Day-Ochoco Highlands. Winter Weather
Advisories have also been issued across Central Oregon, John Day
Basin, Northern/Southern Blue Mountains and foothills through 10
AM Wednesday. 3 to 8 inches of snowfall is expected through
Wednesday morning, with amounts between 4 and 8 inches anticipated
across higher elevations and 3 to 6 along the foothills.
High temperatures will be cooling into Tuesday as highs drop 6-8
degrees from today, reaching into the low to mid-30s. Afternoon
temperatures will warm about 3 degrees on Wednesday, into the
mid-to upper 30s. Morning temperatures will also be chilly,
dropping into the low to mid-20s Tuesday morning and into the
mid-to upper teens Wednesday morning. 75
.LONG TERM...Thursday through Monday...
A transient ridge passes over the PacNW Thursday with the SWLY flow.
Snow showers will continue over the mountains and low elevations as
the system progresses. The crest of WA/OR Cascades and northern
Blues may see snow of 6" or more Thursday morning whereas the
Foothills of the Blues and John Day Highlands could get up to 2"
(>70% chance). These aforementioned areas will have additional
snowfall Thursday night into Saturday night as the shortwave trough
moves across the PacNW with the next system. High chance (>70%) of
snow exceeding to 8" over the WA Cascades through Friday, though
with a moderate chance (60%) for portions of the northern Blues
seeing 8" of snow as well Thursday. Otherwise, the remaining
forecast area will have mainly lingering snowfall left behind from
these systems. Light winds will prevail through majority of the
forecast area with some breezes developing around the crest of the
Cascades Friday afternoon and Saturday night (50-70% chance).
Snow will continue to linger around the aforementioned areas Sunday
through Monday as the trough moves out (<40% confidence). The
Cascades may be breezy (20 mph or less) as the northwest flow takes
over, but confidence is low (<20%). High temperatures will be in the
20s and 30s as they may struggle to reach above freezing, though low
temps will be in the 20s or below. Feaster/97
&&
.AVIATION...00Z TAFs...KDLS/KPDT/KALW/KYKM/KPSC are currently in VFR
with KRDM/KBDN in IFR. These sites will continue to deteriorate
between MVFR and LIFR through tomorrow morning, due to mainly light
snow and low clouds. KRDM/KBDN may briefly have fog developed
tomorrow morning as well (40% confidence). Winds will remain at 10
kts or less for all sites. Feaster/97
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
PDT 24 32 17 36 / 70 30 50 10
ALW 26 34 19 35 / 70 40 60 20
PSC 27 36 21 37 / 40 20 30 0
YKM 23 35 18 34 / 20 10 10 10
HRI 27 36 20 37 / 60 20 30 10
ELN 20 31 14 30 / 40 20 20 20
RDM 22 33 15 36 / 60 30 40 10
LGD 27 36 16 36 / 70 50 70 20
GCD 28 40 18 35 / 80 60 70 10
DLS 28 40 23 39 / 30 20 20 60
&&
.PDT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...Winter Storm Warning until 10 AM PST Wednesday for ORZ050.
Winter Weather Advisory until 10 AM PST Wednesday for ORZ502-503-
505-507-508-511.
Winter Storm Warning until 10 AM PST Wednesday for ORZ506.
WA...Winter Weather Advisory until 10 AM PST Wednesday for WAZ029-030.
&&
SHORT TERM...75
LONG TERM....97
AVIATION...97The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
The Cocorahs observer WA-KL-6 1 mile west northwest of White Salmon reported 3.8 inches of new snow in a 48 hour period ending 0700 February 6th. Radar estimated end of snowfall occurred around 0100 February 6th.
The Cocorahs observer WA-CB-3 9 miles northeast Dayton reported 5 inches of new snow at 0700 February 5th. The Cocorahs observer WA-CB-2 3 miles south southeast of Dayton measured 4.5 inches of new snow at 0700 February 5th. Radar and observation estimated ending of snowfall occurred before 0430 on February 5th.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Washington in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Washington, February 2025
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1239540, 1239538.