First snow, 'hazardous conditions': Winter weather forecast in parts of Northwest
Forget fall. In some parts of the Northwest, the weather this week is going straight to winter.
Indeed, folks in portions of the northwestern U.S. are getting an early taste of wintry weather this week as nippy temperatures and a few snowflakes are in the forecast for the highest elevations of Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.
In some spots, these will be the first snowflakes since last winter. “A cold storm system sinking down out of western Canada will bring chances for accumulating snow to the highest elevations of the Northwest,” said AccuWeather senior meteorologist Heather Zehr.
'Hazardous conditions' for anyone caught unprepared
A winter weather advisory remained in effect Thursday for portions of Idaho and Montana due to the expected snowfall, which could reach 10 inches on the mountain summits of Montana. "Outdoor recreationalists should be prepared for winter conditions," the National Weather Service in Missoula, Montana, said.
"A weather system will bring cold and wet conditions to the backcountry today," the weather service said Thursday. "The primary locations impacted will be northwest Montana near the Continental Divide, including Glacier National Park, and high elevations in southwest Montana.
"Snow levels will drop to around 6,500 feet during the day on Thursday. In addition, easterly winds will be gusting to 30-40 mph. This will lead to hazardous conditions for anyone caught unprepared."
In Pendleton, Oregon, the weather service said "snow levels will lower to around 6,000 feet, and the Wallowa Mountains and the Elkhorns will observe at least several inches of snow. Hunters, campers and hikers need to be prepared for this upcoming cool and wet weather."
Freezing temperatures reported in Oregon, California
In eastern Oregon and far northern California, the weather service had posted a freeze warning for Wednesday night and early Thursday morning. "Widespread areas of below-freezing low temperatures are possible east of the Cascades Wednesday night into Thursday morning," the weather service in Medford, Oregon, said.
Klamath Falls, Oregon, reported a temperature of 30 degrees early Thursday morning, while temperatures in far northern California dipped to the upper 20s, the weather service said.
Temperatures in the area had been predicted to dip as low as 19 degrees in some areas, and the weather service warned that "frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing."
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No snow for the cities
Although temperatures will cool this week, no snow is predicted for the big cities of the Northwest, such as Spokane, Washington; Portland, Oregon; Boise, Idaho; and Reno, Nevada, AccuWeather said.
The snow and cooler temperatures are courtesy of an upper-level low pressure area that's settling over the region, the weather service said. By late week, the low will bring temperatures that drop into the 30s and 40s at night in the Pacific Northwest, northern Great Basin, and northern Rockies.
These temperatures are some 10-15 degrees below seasonal averages, AccuWeather said.
Skiers will have to wait a bit
The snow won't be heavy enough or in the right places for ski areas to open in the Northwest this week, although the pattern may cause excitement for avid skiers who are eagerly awaiting for the mountain resorts to open, AccuWeather meteorologist Alyssa Glenny said.
"Typically, ski resorts across the Rocky Mountains and Cascades open sometime between late October and November, depending on the seasonal conditions and location," she said.
Warmer temperatures more typical of mid- to late-September are forecast by the weekend across the Northwest, AccuWeather said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: First snow, freezing temps in forecast for parts of Northwest
