Updated March 30, 2026, 5:19 p.m. PT
A winter storm watch has been issued for Oregon’s mountain passes from March 31 to April 1 by the National Weather Service in Portland.
A complete of 10 to 18 inches of snow, and winds as much as 35 mph, may make journey on mountain highways hazardous, significantly the evening of April 1.
The snow is forecast to fall as little as 2,500 toes however the bulk of the buildup will likely be above 4,000 toes.
The situations are more than likely to impression mountain roadways akin to Highway 22 at Santiam Pass, Highway 58 at Willamette Pass and Highway 26 within the Mount Hood space close to Government Camp.
The snow ought to assist Oregon’s higher-elevation ski areas present some higher situations for a interval. However, Oregon’s mountain snowpack stays at file low ranges and this dump of snow will not change that reality.
Currently, Oregon’s snowpack is 14% of regular statewide and as little as 9% of regular within the Central Cascade Range. It’s the worst yr for snow since 2015 and one of the worst in data relationship again to 1981.
This yr’s winter — December, January and February — were tied for the warmest on record.
Zach Urness has been an outdoor reporter in Oregon for 18 years and is host of theExplore Oregon Podcast. He will be reached atzurness@StatesmanJournal.com or 503-399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors and BlueSky atoregonoutdoors.bsky.social
