Coldest Weather of the Season This Weekend

NOAA Satellite Imagery NOAA Portland

(SALEM, Ore.) - The coldest weather of the season is expected this weekend and into early next week in the interior valleys of southwest Washington and northwest Oregon and in the western Columbia River Gorge a low pressure system will linger near the coast through the weekend.

This system will draw cold air from the interior to bring the coldest air of the season to the interior valleys and the western columbia river gorge. Snowfall will generally be limited to areas above 1500 feet through the weekend. however areas in the Columbia River Gorge could see snow levels fall to near the surface.

The snow level may also briefly fall to below 1000 feet anywhere in northwest Oregon and southwest Washington in the vicinity of heavier showers. More significant cold air is expected to filter into southwest washington and northwest oregon early next week.

Now levels will be at or near the surface to around 1000 feet early next week but appears moisture is somewhat limited so significant accumulations do not look likely at this time. low temperatures are likely to drop into the mid and upper 20s in the valleys early in the week with slow moderation to follow for the latter half of the week.

After monday it appears drier conditions are in store as high pressure builds over the region. While a lot of details are still up in the air now would be a good time to make preparations for colder temperatures and possible snow in the lowlands. NOAA central Willamette Valley weather alert