Portland could start Thursday morning with snow showers, and a mix of snow and rain through the lunch hour.
“Showers” is the key word here. “They’re hit or miss,” said Clinton Rockey of the National Weather Service in Portland.
That means where and when exactly the snow will fall is difficult to predict. Any snowfall at Portland’s lower levels isn’t likely to stick. But snowflakes in the West Hills — or north of Portland in areas such as Ridgefield — could accumulate up to an inch, Rockey said.
Snow levels that start at 500 feet will likely rise to 1,000 by the afternoon. The high temperature will be near 39 degrees, ensuring that any snow that does fall and stick will be gone soon. Rain showers are likely by the afternoon.
Travel could still be tricky in and around Portland in the morning, when leaves on city streets could freeze even if the snow doesn’t stick. As always, take extra precaution in the Cascade passes.
— Beth Slovic; bslovic@oregonian.com; 503-221-8551
— Rosemarie Stein; rstein@oregonian.com