Snow and Ice to Hammer the Pacific Northwest Through Sunday, Including Portland and Seattle

 Linda Lam

Published: February 12, 2021

A second winter storm will arrive early this weekend in the Pacific Northwest and it could be one of the heavier snow events in at least a few years in Seattle and Portland, Oregon.

This storm has been named Winter Storm Uri by The Weather Channel.

A piece of the frigid Arctic air that is dominating the central United States is now squeezing its way through the gaps in the Cascades into western Washington and western Oregon.

With this cold air in place, the next two Pacific storm system will send moisture overlapping that cold air, leading to snow and perhaps some freezing rain not simply at higher elevations, but also in parts of the Interstate 5 corridor of northern Oregon and Washington state.

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Winter Storm Alerts

The National Weather Service has issued winter storm warnings for parts of the Northwest where there is greater confidence of significant snow accumulations, including the Portland, Oregon, and Seattle metro areas.

An ice storm warning has been issued for a portion of the Oregon Coast and the Central Willamette Valley south of Portland. Significant mixing of snow, sleet and freezing rain could cause power outages and tree damage in this area.

Winter weather advisories have also been posted in parts of Washington and Oregon as well as throughout parts of Idaho, western Montana, western Wyoming, Nevada and northern California.

Winter Alerts

Forecast Timing

This second round of precipitation will be wetter, arriving overnight Friday into early Saturday.

Until then, rain, snow and ice continue in parts of Washington and Oregon, while flurries left behind by Winter Storm Tabitha are weakening in the Rockies.

A period of freezing rain is expected along the Oregon Coast, possibly as far inland as Portland, as Uri moves ashore. Snow will continue across much of the Northwest.

Snow will become more widespread from the Pacific Northwest to the Sierra and the Rockies through the day. Some lightening of snowfall rates is likely by Saturday evening as the system moves over the Rockies.

Even after Winter Storm Uri, the Northwest will remain wet as several systems move through the region.

Five Day Forecast

Snowfall Forecast

The heaviest snow accumulations through Sunday morning are expected in the Oregon and southern Washington Cascades and the western Columbia Gorge, where over a foot of snow is likely.

In the lower elevations of western Oregon and Washington, significant snow accumulations - over 6 inches - are most likely from Portland to Tacoma and Olympia.

Several inches of snow are also expected in the Seattle metro area, particularly south of the city and in the Cascade foothills, with snow totals dropping as you go north of Seattle.

Much lighter snow totals are expected farther south in Oregon's Willamette Valley - including Salem and Eugene - where more freezing rain or rain may fall. Snowfall totals of less than 6 inches are also likely across the Northern Rockies.

Snow and Rain Forecast

Prior to this event, Seattle has measured just half an inch of snow so far this season (on Dec. 21). This will be the first measurable snow of the season in Portland. February is the snowiest month on average in Portland, which averages just 4.3 inches of snow each year. Seattle averages 6.8 inches a year, and February and December are typically the snowiest months.

The most recent season with notable snowfall was 2018-19 when 21 inches was measured in Seattle and 7 inches fell in Portland, almost all of the snow came in February that season.

This moisture will be beneficial in the West, as almost 80% of the region remains in drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Mountain snow is particularly important as snowmelt in the warm months replenishes reservoirs, rivers and streams.

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.