Winter Weather Returns This Week – Travel impacts expected beginning Sunday – Very cold arctic air expected by December 1st.
Winter weather is expected to make a return to the local area and the mountain passes starting Sunday afternoon. A new snow storm is expected to begin impacting Highway 58 and Highway 97 north of Klamath Falls as early as noon Sunday. Additional snowfall is expected around Wednesday followed by very cold arctic air settling in the area around December 1st. For more detailed weather briefings please consider becoming a subscriber to our news service. We have daily weather updates and early forecast projections posted regularly in our app.
Winter Weather Info:
Cascades: A combination of high snowfall rates, blowing snow, and the amount of accumulating snow will cause increasing travel impacts in the S. OR Cascades late Sunday afternoon through Monday afternoon.
The heaviest snowfall is expected from Union Creek and Crater Lake north. Peak snowfall rates of up to an inch per hour possible Sunday night through Monday morning.
Blowing and drifting snow is possible in the Cascades on Sunday night and Monday.
East of the Cascades and Siskiyous southward: Light snow and blowing snow are expected Sunday evening through Monday afternoon along with breezy to gusty winds. Strongest winds Monday morning and afternoon over higher terrain and from Paisley to Silver Lake.
West of the Cascades: Monday morning, snowfall levels will lower to 2000-2500 feet. This may cause impacts with accumulating snowfall for areas west of the Cascades, especially in eastern Douglas Co, eastern Jackson Co and the Umpqua Divide.
Colder temperatures Tuesday through Thursday with periods of mainly light snow. Snow levels of 2000-2500 ft but locally down to 1500 ft.
At the end of next week, an Arctic airmass under an area of high pressure is forecast to expand southward into the PacNW, leading to temperatures below freezing even at the coast.
Winter Storm Watch Posted For Sunday-Monday:
…WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY EVENING THROUGH
MONDAY AFTERNOON ABOVE 2500 FEET…
* WHAT…Heavy snow and blowing snow possible above 2500 feet.
Total snow accumulations of 3 to 8 inches possible, with up to a
foot over higher peaks and ridges. Winds could gust as high as
50 mph.
* WHERE…Elevations above 2500 feet along the Cascades, the
Cascade foothills, and Umpqua Divide, including Crater Lake,
Howard Prairie, Prospect, Union Creek, Toketee Falls, Diamond
Lake, and portions of highways 138, 62, 230, 140, 227, 58, and
Dead Indian Memorial Highway.
* WHEN…From Sunday evening through Monday afternoon.
* IMPACTS…Travel could be very difficult due to snow covered
roads and low visibility. Gusty winds could bring down tree
branches.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…The heaviest snow is expected late Sunday
night into Monday morning, and could produce snowfall rates of 1
inch per hour during the Monday morning commute.
* View the hazard area in detail at
https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/?wfo=mfr
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
* Stock emergency kit with tire chains, flashlight, batteries,
blankets, food, water, and medications.
* The safest place during a winter storm is indoors.
* Plan now to avoid traveling during the storm.
* A Winter Storm Watch means there is potential for significant
snow, sleet accumulations that may create dangerous travel.