After a largely dry start to winter, Oregon’s mountains are finally receiving much-needed snowfall, raising hopes for potential accumulation even in the valleys. The welcome change comes as a relief to businesses reliant on winter tourism and offers a glimmer of optimism for the state’s snowpack, which currently lags behind seasonal averages.
The shift in weather patterns is particularly significant for communities like Government Camp, a popular destination on Mount Hood. Ed Rogers, owner of the family-run Huckleberry Inn, which has operated since 1966, expressed his relief, stating, “I haven’t seen one of these as long as I’ve been here.” Rogers emphasized the critical necessitate for substantial snowfall, noting, “We need at least 10 feet of snow.”
David Bishop, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Portland, confirmed that snow is currently falling in the Cascade Mountains, the Cascade foothills and the Coast Range. A winter weather advisory is in effect, and there is a possibility of snow reaching valley floors Wednesday night into Thursday morning.
While the incoming storm will provide a boost to the mountain snowpack – potentially adding one to two feet of snow to the Cascades – Bishop cautioned that it likely won’t fully compensate for the earlier lack of precipitation. “It will help out with some of the deficit, but it’s not going to wipe it out,” he said.
Uncertainty Remains for Valley Snowfall
The National Weather Service is closely monitoring several possible scenarios regarding snowfall accumulation in the lower elevations. While confidence is high for significant snowfall in the mountains, the extent of accumulation in the valleys remains uncertain. Three possibilities are being considered:
- No snowfall on the valley floor in Northwest Oregon or Southwest Washington.
- Snow accumulation in Longview and Kelso in Washington, and the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan areas.
- Snowfall in the southern Willamette Valley, including Salem, Corvallis, and Eugene.
A forecast map provided by the National Weather Service as of Monday, February 16, 2026, illustrates the potential range of snowfall across the I-5 corridor.
A few inches of snow melts under the winter sun on the Trillium Lake loop trail near Mount Hood near Government Camp, Ore., on Jan. 24, 2026. (April Ehrlich / OPB)
Coastal Concerns and Travel Advisories
Beyond the mountains and valleys, the Oregon coast is facing a separate weather threat: sneaker waves. Bishop warned of the potential for dangerous sneaker waves through Tuesday, urging caution for those near the shoreline.
Travelers are advised to closely monitor weather reports as conditions are rapidly evolving. The National Weather Service emphasizes the importance of staying informed, particularly if travel plans are in place.
The current winter weather patterns follow a period of unusual warmth and dryness. According to , last year Huckleberry Inn owner Ed Rogers noted the late start to the season, saying, “It didn’t really get going until January,” and “We missed all of December.”
Looking Ahead
While this week’s snowfall is a positive development, the long-term outlook for Oregon’s snowpack remains uncertain. Continued monitoring of weather patterns and snow accumulation will be crucial in the coming weeks. For Rogers and the Huckleberry Inn, and for the broader winter tourism industry, the hope is that This represents the start of a sustained period of snowfall, bringing the mountains – and potentially the valleys – back to their winter glory.
Share your thoughts on the changing weather conditions in the comments below, and please share this article with anyone who may be affected by the upcoming snowfall.
