Traveling for the holidays? Weather is a factor

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A series of storms systems is set to hit the PNW Tuesday through the weekend, bringing heavy mountain snow, heavy valley rain and windy/wet conditions to the coast. You will need to carry chains/traction tires if you plan to head over any of the mountain passes. Here’s the break down region by region:

Metro/Valley/I-5 Corridor:

TIMING: Rain begins Tuesday afternoon with heavy rain by Tuesday night. Showers will continue off and on through the day Wednesday & Wednesday night. The heaviest rain before Thanksgiving looks to fall Tuesday night- though you’ll have to watch for occasional downpours on Wednesday. A new storm arrives Thanksgiving morning. This will be the wettest day of the week. We’ll likely pick up an inch of rain on Thursday alone. It’ll also be windy with winds gusting to 35 mph during the day. Another moves in Friday and lingers through Saturday. Expect more on/off heavy rain & breezy conditions. Sunday looks wet at times with showers occasionally during the day. We’ll continue to fine-tune the weekend forecast as we get closer, but for now expect it stay wet through at least Monday.

PDX Weather app — everything at your fingertips

TEMPERATURES: Tuesday will bring the last day of highs in the 50s. Temperatures will only climb into the mid to upper 40s Wednesday through Sunday.

RAIN TOTALS: 2.5″ to 3.5″ by the end of Friday

Cascades/Mountain Passes:

TIMING/SNOW TOTALS: Spotty snow showers begin Tuesday afternoon at around 4,000′. Tuesday overnight brings heavier snow with accumulating snow at the passes as the snow level drops down to 3,000′ Wednesday will bring rounds of occasional snow through the overnight. Thursday’s system brings heavy snow. Snow totals on Thursday alone could be between 6″ & 12″. Thursday will likely be the snowiest day, but expect showers to continue on and off Friday through the weekend. Snow levels will stay at/below passes Wednesday morning through at least Sunday. By the time the Sunday arrives, expect between 2 and 3 feet of new snow-if not more- for the Cascades!

SNOW LEVELS: Snow levels drop to pass level Tuesday night and stay there through most of the week. Occasionally the levels may rise to 4,000 feet, but expect winter driving conditions through all passes this week. The coast range passes could see some slushy snow as well- but expect the imminent winter travel conditions to be at higher elevations.

Coast:

TIMING: Rain begins Tuesday with heavy rain Tuesday evening and overnight. Wednesday will bring occasional downpours/thunderstorms with strong winds & small hail. Wednesday night will be very windy. Expect southerly winds from 20 to 30 mph with gusts approaching 50 mph after midnight. Thursday brings more heavy rain & breezy conditions. Thursday night will bring another round of very strong winds gusting to 50 mph. Wet & breezy conditions persist through Sunday.

RAIN TOTALS:

Tuesday to Wednesday morning: 1″ to 2″

Wednesday to Wednesday night: .25″ to .5″

Wednesday Overnight to Thursday: .75″ to 1″

Thanksgiving: 1″ to 2″

Central/Eastern Oregon:

Travel conditions look okay in most spots through Wednesday as most of the action doesn’t make it east of the Cascades until then. Keep in mind that if you travel over mountain passes, you will need to watch for winter driving conditions there. Wednesday night will bring snow chances for places like Bend, Madras & Redmond. By Thanksgiving morning expect occasional snow showers that will mix with rain from time to time during the afternoon. Expect highs in the mid to upper 30s. Friday – Sunday will bring occasional rain/snow showers at elevations above 2500′.