Winter Weather Advisory
For the Cascades from 12PM Friday to 4PM Saturday. Expect 8-12" during this time with high wind gusts making visibilities low and travel dangerous.  This advisory includes the Santiam and Government Camp Passes. Carry snow-tire chains.
 
Detailed Forecast
Still very warm this morning ahead of the cold front for today. This morning we see a 40% chance of showers then when the cold front moves across the region during the afternoon, a 50-60% chance of rain and snow, before turning to all snow by late afternoon. Snow on Friday around 3-5" for Gilchrist and Crescent, 2-3" for Sunriver and La Pine and around 1-2" Elsewhere. Highs will be in the low 40s, with the warmest weather in the morning. Saturday will still be a bit breezy but our chances of precip go down to 50% but we keep the clouds with highs near 42 as another system moves in Saturday night and into Sunday morning. Highs on Sunday will be in the mid 40s with overcast skies and a 50% chance of rain and snow.  Monday will be a little warmer with a 30% chance of showers, highs near 50.
 
Forecast Discussion
A trough will be pressing into the Pacific Northwest on Friday and will bring with it cooler temps and a good chance of precip. It will increase flow from the SW and bring in a good dose of moisture, so expect showers and snow even here in the High Desert. The winds will be rather strong, especially Friday night and into Saturday, SW 15-25mph.  The Northern Cascades will see about 8-12" and Mt. Bachelor around 3-7" with snow levels dropping to around 2500'
 
Saturday we'll have a break for the most part. The trough moves eastward and allows us some breathing room. We'll still have the clouds and a bit of wind, but chances of precip go down because we lack a large lifting mechanism. We get a smaller trough moving in Saturday night and into Sunday, this increases snow chances for the Cascades and even gives us a 50% chance in the High Desert.
 
Some of the models are bringing in a good chance of more precip on Monday, but I don't agree with them, it looks like a ridge starts to build, so I'm only going 30% for Monday with highs near 50.
 
Jonathan Bellemore
Meteorologist
jonbellemore@kohd.com