Heavy Snow in Oregon, January 6 to 8, 2026

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Portland OR
455 AM PST Tue Jan 6 2026

.SYNOPSIS...Back-to-back frontal systems will bring breezy
southwesterly winds, widespread lowland rain, and heavy Cascade
snow today through Wednesday. Travel will be impacted through
the Cascade passes. Rain and Cascade snow transition to post-
frontal showers on Thursday. Drier weather returns on Friday as
high pressure builds aloft. A shortwave will bring chances for
light rain this weekend.

&&

.SHORT TERM...Now through Thursday night...Satellite imagery as
of early Tuesday morning depicts increasing cloud cover across
northwest Oregon and southwest Washington ahead of the next
front. Prior to these clouds moving in, clear skies and light
winds allowed for the development of fog and mist across the
Willamette Valley yesterday evening. Based on webcams and ASOS
observations, some of this fog and mist are lingering across the
Valley with visibilities between 0.5 to 3 miles. There is also
some patchy dense fog with visibilities as low as 0.25 mile in
the central Willamette Valley from McMinnville to Corvallis and
Albany. Given that the dense fog is patchy and not widespread,
additional Dense Fog Advisories were not issued. If you are
commuting through fog this morning, make sure to slow down, use
your low beam headlights, and leave plenty of distance ahead of
you. Fog will begin to clear out after 5-7 AM as southerly winds
increase with the incoming front.

The first of two back-to-back fronts will arrive today,
returning widespread lowland rain, breezy southerly winds, and
heavy Cascade snow. Radar imagery shows rain beginning along the
south Washington and north Oregon coast. Expect rain to make
it's way into interior southwest Washington and the Willamette
Valley around 7-9 AM. Based on high resolution guidance, the
heaviest rain is expected in the late afternoon and early
evening today. The second front will arrive on Wednesday,
bringing similar impacts.

The main concern with these two systems will be the heavy
Cascade snow, impacting travel through the passes including
Highway 26 at Government Camp, Santiam Pass, and Willamette
Pass. Winter Storm Warnings are in effect across the Cascades
now through 4 PM Thursday, which encompasses the snowfall from
both systems. Two to four feet of snow is expected across the
Cascades, and winds gusts up to 45 mph may result in blowing
snow and reduced visibilities. Consider postponing travel until
weather conditions improve. If you must travel, be sure to slow
down, allow extra time, and carry an emergency supply kit in
case you get stranded. Backcountry recreation is not advised.

Colder air aloft will come in on Wednesday behind the second
system, bringing increased atmospheric instability. As a
result, there is a 10-20% chance for thunderstorms throughout
the day across the area, with the highest chances along the
coast. Chances for thunderstorms peak across the Willamette
Valley in the afternoon. Any passing thunderstorms may result in
lightning, heavy rain, gusty erratic winds, and/or small hail.

Rain transitions into post-frontal showers Thursday with
lingering snow across the Cascades. Will note that there is a
10% chance that snow levels drop as low as 500-1000 feet on
late Wednesday night into early Thursday morning, especially
over southwest Washington. Any heavy showers that occur may
briefly bring snow levels down below 1000 feet, resulting in
brief snow. Given the onshore flow and milder temperatures, any
snow that falls will likely not result in impactful
accumulations.          -10

&&

.LONG TERM...Friday through Monday...Dry weather returns on
Friday as ensemble guidance is in agreement of an upper level
ridge building over the Pacific Northwest. By the weekend, the
majority of ensemble members are showing some light rain along
the coast and southwest Washington as a weak shortwave moves in.
Most interior locations should remain mostly dry, but there is
a 15-30% chance for precipitation across the Willamette Valley
through the end of the weekend. Uncertainty in the pattern
increases heading into early next week, but general trends favor
mostly dry weather.    -10

&&

.AVIATION...Clearing from yesterday evening resulted in LIFR/IFR
CIGs and VIS across the Willamette Valley due to fog and mist.
There still remains some LIFR CIGs/VIS in the Valley, however,
this will be short lived as the next frontal system arrives.
Southerly winds are increasing, which will help clear out any
remaining fog. After 15z Tue, VIS across the Valley should
improve to MVFR/VFR as the front brings increased mixing. Rain
will increase this morning, with high confidence (70-80%
chance) that CIGs trend toward MVFR after 18-21z Tue at any
given terminal. Heavier rain between 21z Tue-03z Wed may result
in visibility reductions to 3-5SM. Southwesterly winds will
gradually increase today, with peak gusts this afternoon around
25-30 kt along the coast and 20-25 kt across the Valley.

KPDX AND APPROACHES...IFR CIGs between 12-15z Tue are expected
to  lift to MVFR after 15z Tue as the next front approaches and
creates increased mixing. Predominately MVFR today with CIGs
below 2 kft. Winds turn more south-southwesterly today with
gusts up to 25 kt. The breeziest winds will be between 21z
Tue-03z Wed.        -10

&&

.MARINE...Southerly winds will gradually increase across the
waters today as the next front moves through. A Gale Warning is
in effect for all waters north of Cape Foulweather including
the Columbia River Bar until 4 PM this afternoon. Expect
southwesterly wind gusts up to 35 kt today with seas building to
10-12 feet at 10-11 sec by this afternoon. Given the more
northern track of this front, winds will be weaker across the
waters south of Cape Foulweather. These southern marine zones
remain in a Small Craft Advisory through Wednesday morning.
Winds will gradually weaken and turn more westerly behind the
front this evening.

Will see a brief break in the winds tonight into early Wednesday
morning before winds ramp up again with another frontal passage.
Southwesterly winds return with gusts up to 30 kt. Chances for
widespread Gale force wind gusts are low (10-15%), however the
chances for at least isolated Gale force gusts are higher 50-70%.
Given that confidence is low for widespread and frequent Gales on
Wednesday, a Gale headlines were not considered. Hazardous seas
do return on Wednesday as a long-period northwesterly swell
arrives. This will build seas to 19-21 ft at 16-17 sec, peaking
between 4 PM Wednesday and 7 AM Thursday. Chances for seas
exceeding 20 feet are around 60-80% for the waters beyond 20 NM.
For the inner waters out 20 NM including the Main Channel of
the Columbia River Bar, chances for seas exceeding 20 feet are
around 20-30%. Given the high confidence for seas above 15 feet,
a Hazardous Seas Warning has been issued across all waters
including the Columbia River Bar from Wednesday morning to
Thursday afternoon.      -10

&&

.BEACH HAZARDS...High surf conditions are expected to occur
Wednesday afternoon through Thursday afternoon as a long-period
northwesterly swell arrives, bringing breakers up to 25 ft within
the surf zone. A High Surf Advisory has been issued to cover this
threat. Destructive waves may wash over beaches, jetties, and
other structures unexpectedly. People can be swept off rocks and
jetties and drown while observing high surf. Minor beach erosion
may damage coastal properties and buildings. Higher than normal
water run-up is expected on beaches and low-lying shoreline.

Although high surf conditions ease Thursday night into Friday, a
high threat of sneaker waves will remain a threat. Waves may run
further up the beach than normal. These waves can easily catch
people off guard. Never turn your back to the ocean. Razor
clammers should use extra caution.     -23/10

&&

.PQR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

OR...High Surf Advisory from 10 AM Wednesday to 4 PM PST Thursday for
     ORZ101>103.

     Winter Storm Warning until 4 PM PST Thursday for ORZ126>128.

WA...High Surf Advisory from 10 AM Wednesday to 4 PM PST Thursday for
     WAZ201.

     Winter Storm Warning until 4 PM PST Thursday for WAZ211.

PZ...Gale Warning until 4 PM PST this afternoon for PZZ210-251-252-
     271-272.

     Small Craft Advisory from 4 PM this afternoon to 4 AM PST
     Wednesday for PZZ210-251-252-271-272.

     Hazardous Seas Warning from 4 AM Wednesday to 4 PM PST Thursday
     for PZZ210-251-252-271-272.

     Small Craft Advisory until 10 AM PST Wednesday for PZZ253-273.

     Hazardous Seas Warning from 10 AM Wednesday to 4 PM PST Thursday
     for PZZ253-273.
&&

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