Photo: ODOT
Another winter storm is bearing down on Oregon.
As the storm approaches strong east winds through the Columbia River Gorge will pump cold air into the region. The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory through Friday at 4 a.m. for gusts in the Gorge of over 60 miles an hour. Areas near the mouth of the Gorge will have gusts to 55 mph and the Portland/Vancouver area will experience gusts 20 - 30 mph.
Forecast models are coming into better agreement about what comes next. A Winter Storm Watch is in effect from Thursday evening through Friday evening.
Snow is expected to start falling Thursday evening. 1 - 2 inches of accumulation are possible. Then, as warmer air moves over the region the snow will change to freezing rain. Around a third of an inch of ice is possible in the Portland/Vancouver area.
The switch from snow to freezing rain will happen faster in the southern part of the Willamette Valley.
Temperatures will warm Friday night and Rain is expected on Saturday.
The snow and ice could lead to power outages.