Severe Weather Links

Here are some good links to check out during severe weather periods:

* ODOT's TripCheck--find out how state roads are doing

http://tripcheck.com (you may also call 511 from any phone)

* National Weather Service's Portland Office

http://weather.gov/portland

* Portland-Area Flash Alerts--various agencies post notices and closures on this site, which can also be setup to send you FREE text messages

http://www.flashalert.net/region.html?RegionID=1

Winter Storm Warning Update: 2-28-11

A Winter Storm Warning continues until 6 PM this evening for the higher elevation areas of Columbia County: Vernonia, Mist, Birkenfeld, Camp Wilkerson, Chapman, etc. Snow expected throughout the day and rain and snow both are expected this week.

--Columbia County Emergency Management

++++++++++++

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
406 AM PST MON FEB 28 2011

...ANOTHER COLD WINTER STORM HEADING FOR THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST...

.A STORM SYSTEM ORIGINATING IN THE GULF OF ALASKA WILL BRING
HEAVY SNOW TO THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHWEST OREGON AND SOUTHWEST
WASHINGTON THROUGH THIS EVENING. SNOW HAS ALREADY BEGUN IN THE
MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHERN WASHINGTON AND EXTREME NORTHERN OREGON...
BUT THE PROSPECTS FOR HEAVIER SNOW WILL SPREAD DOWN FROM NORTH TO
SOUTH THROUGHOUT THE DAY TODAY. WHILE THE SNOW LEVEL HAS RISEN
SOMEWHAT AHEAD OF THE FRONT...IT IS EXPECTED TO FALL BACK TO VERY
LOW LEVELS ALONG WITH THE FRONT. WET SNOW IS EVEN POSSIBLE DOWN TO
THE VALLEY FLOOR DURING THE PERIOD OF HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION ALONG
WITH THE FRONT. FOR THE CASCADES...IN ADDITION TO THE HEAVY
SNOW...STRONG WINDS MAY BRING BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WITH NEAR ZERO
VISIBILITY.

INCLUDING THE CITY OF...VERNONIA
406 AM PST MON FEB 28 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM PST THIS
EVENING FOR THE WILLAPA HILLS AND NORTH OREGON COAST RANGE...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG WINDS REMAINS IN
EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM PST THIS EVENING.

* TIMING...THE HEAVIEST PERIOD OF RAIN...SNOW AND WIND WILL SPREAD
 SOUTH DURING THE DAY TODAY. THE SNOW LEVEL WILL BECOME LOW
 ENOUGH TO AFFECT MOST PASSES BY MIDDAY TODAY.

* SNOW LEVELS...1000 TO 2000 FEET THIS MORNING...LOWEST IN THE
 WILLAPA HILLS. SNOW LEVEL WILL LOWER TO 500 TO 1000 FEET DURING
 THE DAY TODAY.

* ACCUMULATIONS...6 TO 12 INCHES IN THE WILLAPA HILLS...
 HEAVIEST ABOVE 2000 FEET. 9 INCHES TO AS MUCH AS A FOOT AND
 A HALF IN THE NORTH OREGON COAST RANGE...HEAVIEST ABOVE 2000
 FEET.

* WIND...STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS MAY CAUSE BLIZZARD CONDITIONS
 AT TIMES ESPECIALLY FOR THE PASSES OF THE COAST RANGE. WEST
 TO SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 60 MPH ARE
 POSSIBLE FOR EXPOSED RIDGES TODAY.

* IMPACTS...TRAVEL THROUGH THE COAST RANGE WILL BE TREACHEROUS
 THROUGH MONDAY. AN EXTREMELY HEAVY PERIOD OF SNOW AND STRONG
 WINDS IS EXPECTED THIS MORNING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING.  SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF
SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN
AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...
FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

Urban and Small Stream Flood Advisory: 2-28-11

Urban and small stream flooding advisory for Columbia County this morning until 8:45 AM. Please pass along to others at your agency or to other colleagues.

--Columbia County Emergency Management

++++++++++++

FLOOD ADVISORY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
601 AM PST MON FEB 28 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PORTLAND HAS ISSUED AN

* URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY FOR...
 EASTERN WASHINGTON COUNTY IN NORTHWEST OREGON...
 NORTHWESTERN CLACKAMAS COUNTY IN NORTHWEST OREGON...
 SOUTHEASTERN COLUMBIA COUNTY IN NORTHWEST OREGON...
 WESTERN MULTNOMAH COUNTY IN NORTHWEST OREGON...
 CLARK COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON...
 SOUTH CENTRAL COWLITZ COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON...

* UNTIL 845 AM PST.

* AT 551 AM PST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
 HEAVY RAIN DEVELOPING ACROSS THE PORTLAND AND VANCOUVER METRO AREA
 THIS MORNING.

* THIS AREA OF HEAVY RAIN WILL REMAIN NEARLY STATIONARY THROUGH THE
 EARLY MORNING HOURS...BUT MAY CHANGE TO WET SNOW ESPECIALLY IN THE
 HILLS AS THE MORNING PROGRESSES. RAINFALL RATES OF ONE QUARTER
 TO ONE THIRD OF AN INCH PER HOUR WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE EARLY
 MORNING HOURS ACROSS THE METRO AREA.

* AREAS WITH POOR DRAINAGE MAY HAVE MINOR FLOODING ISSUES THIS
 MORNING. ADDITIONALLY...SMALL STREAMS WILL LIKELY RISE FAIRLY
 RAPIDLY THIS MORNING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF AROUND AN INCH IS POSSIBLE WITHIN THE
NEXT TWO TO FOUR HOURS IN THE WARNED AREA.

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON
HIGHWAYS...STREETS AND UNDERPASSES...IN URBAN AREAS WITH POOR OR
OVERWHELMED DRAINAGE...AND WILL ALSO CAUSE ELEVATED LEVELS ON SMALL
CREEKS AND STREAMS.

LANDSLIDES AND DEBRIS FLOWS ARE POSSIBLE DURING THIS FLOOD EVENT.
PEOPLE...STRUCTURES AND ROADS LOCATED BELOW STEEP SLOPES...IN CANYONS
AND NEAR THE MOUTHS OF CANYONS MAY BE AT SERIOUS RISK FROM RAPIDLY
MOVING LANDSLIDES.

High Wind Warning for Parts of Columbia County 2/27-28/11

This applies to the western (Vernonia, Clatskanie, Mist, Birkenfeld) and higher
elevation portions of the county until 10 AM Monday.

Columbia County Emergency Management

++++++++++++

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
634 PM PST SUN FEB 27 2011

ORZ003-004-281400-
/O.EXA.KPQR.HW.W.0005.110228T0400Z-110228T1800Z/
COAST RANGE OF NORTHWEST OREGON-
CENTRAL COAST RANGE OF WESTERN OREGON-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...VERNONIA
634 PM PST SUN FEB 27 2011

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST MONDAY FOR THE
NORTH AND CENTRAL OREGON COAST RANGE...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PORTLAND HAS ISSUED A HIGH WIND
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST MONDAY.

* WINDS: 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 60 MPH...WITH THE STRONGEST
 WINDS ACROSS PEAKS AND RIDGES OF THE COAST RANGE.

* TIMING: WINDS INCREASING SUNDAY EVENING...WITH PEAK GUSTS
 OCCURRING BETWEEN MIDNIGHT SUNDAY NIGHT AND 8 AM MONDAY MORNING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED
OR OCCURRING. SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH OR GUSTS
OF 58 MPH OR MORE CAN LEAD TO PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Special Weather Statement: February 25, 2011

Special weather statement for the weekend. There is a possibility of light snow late Saturday through Sunday at the lower elevations and some heavier stuff up near Vernonia and Mist.

Columbia County Emergency Management

++++++++++++

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
254 PM PST FRI FEB 25 2011

ORZ003-004-010>014-WAZ019-020-040-261415-
COAST RANGE OF NORTHWEST OREGON-
CENTRAL COAST RANGE OF WESTERN OREGON-
NORTHERN OREGON CASCADE FOOTHILLS-NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES-
CASCADE FOOTHILLS IN LANE COUNTY-CASCADES IN LANE COUNTY-
UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY-SOUTH WASHINGTON CASCADES-WILLAPA HILLS-
SOUTH WASHINGTON CASCADE FOOTHILLS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...VERNONIA...JEWELL...TRASK...
GRANDE RONDE...TIDEWATER...SWISSHOME...SANDY...
SILVER FALLS STATE PARK...SWEET HOME...GOVERNMENT CAMP...
DETROIT...SANTIAM PASS...VIDA...LOWELL...COTTAGE GROVE...
MCKENZIE BRIDGE...OAKRIDGE...WILLAMETTE PASS...PARKDALE...ODELL...
COLDWATER RIDGE VISITORS CENTER...MOUNT ST. HELENS...FRANCES...
RYDERWOOD...TOUTLE...ARIEL...COUGAR
254 PM PST FRI FEB 25 2011

A STORM SYSTEM ORIGINATING IN THE GULF OF ALASKA IS LIKELY TO
BRING HEAVY SNOW TO THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHWEST OREGON AND
SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY. SNOW IS EXPECTED TO
BEGIN AS EARLY AS SATURDAY NIGHT...BUT THE PROSPECTS FOR HEAVIER
SNOW WILL SPREAD DOWN FROM NORTH TO SOUTH LATE SUNDAY AND SUNDAY
NIGHT. SNOW LEVELS THROUGH THE STORM ARE EXPECTED TO BE AROUND
2000 FEET. IN ADDITION TO HEAVY SNOW...STRONG WINDS IN THE
CASCADES MAY BRING BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WITH NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY.

$$

ORZ005>009-WAZ022-023-039-261415-
LOWER COLUMBIA-GREATER PORTLAND METRO AREA-
CENTRAL WILLAMETTE VALLEY-SOUTH WILLAMETTE VALLEY-
WESTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE-I-5 CORRIDOR IN COWLITZ COUNTY-
GREATER VANCOUVER AREA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ST. HELENS...CLATSKANIE...HILLSBORO...
PORTLAND...OREGON CITY...GRESHAM...SALEM...MCMINNVILLE...DALLAS...
EUGENE...CORVALLIS...ALBANY...HOOD RIVER...CASCADE LOCKS...
MULTNOMAH FALLS...LONGVIEW...KELSO...CASTLE ROCK...STEVENSON...
SKAMANIA...VANCOUVER...BATTLE GROUND...WASHOUGAL
254 PM PST FRI FEB 25 2011

A FRONTAL SYSTEM PUSHING IN FROM THE NORTHWEST SATURDAY NIGHT AND
EARLY SUNDAY WILL BRING THE POSSIBILITY OF SNOW BACK TO THE LOWER
ELEVATIONS OF INTERIOR NORTHWEST OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON.
WHETHER OR NOT ACCUMULATING SNOW CAN BE EXPECTED WILL DEPEND UPON
HOW MUCH PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED AS WELL AS WHETHER OR NOT
TEMPERATURES WILL BE BELOW FREEZING...WHICH IS UNCERTAIN. AT THIS
TIME...IT LOOKS LIKE LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE SATURDAY
NIGHT AND EARLY SUNDAY MORNING...ESPECIALLY AT ELEVATIONS ABOVE
500 FEET.

Facebook Page

Check out the latest videos and more on our Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Columbia-County-Emergency-Management/134474983641

A winter storm warning continues for Columbia County until 10 AM. Additional snow is expected due to the front coming in slower than anticipated.

For the latest weather updates: http://weather.gov/portland .

For the latest state road conditions: http://tripcheck.com .

Please remember that you should NEVER dial 911 for road conditions. 911 is for emergencies only! Roads are likely to be slick today and tonight and you should travel accordingly.

Thanks,

Columbia County Emergency Management

Winter Storm Warning Continues for US 30 Corridor of Columbia County 2-24-11

Winter Storm Warning

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
556 AM PST THU FEB 24 2011

...SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON AND NORTHWEST
OREGON THROUGH THIS EVENING...

.SNOW IS BEGINNING TO PICK UP EARLY THIS MORNING ACROSS MOST OF
SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON AND NORTHWEST OREGON...ALREADY ACCUMULATING
ON ROADS IN MANY AREAS JUST IN TIME FOR THE THURSDAY MORNING
COMMUTE. SNOW WILL CONTINUE AT TIMES THROUGH THIS EVENING...THEN
TAPER OFF TONIGHT AS DRIER AND EVEN COLDER AIR MOVES INTO THE
REGION. THE COMBINATION OF COLD AND WIND IN THE HIGHER TERRAIN
WILL LIKELY DROP WIND CHILLS BELOW ZERO FOR THE HIGHER CASCADES BY
FRIDAY MORNING.

ORZ001-005-006-009-WAZ021>023-039-250000-
/O.CON.KPQR.WS.W.0003.000000T0000Z-110225T0600Z/
NORTH OREGON COAST-LOWER COLUMBIA-GREATER PORTLAND METRO AREA-
WESTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE-SOUTH WASHINGTON COAST-I-
5 CORRIDOR IN COWLITZ COUNTY-GREATER VANCOUVER AREA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ASTORIA...CANNON BEACH...TILLAMOOK...
NETARTS...PACIFIC CITY...ST. HELENS...HILLSBORO...PORTLAND...
OREGON CITY...GRESHAM...TROUTDALE...HOOD RIVER...CASCADE LOCKS...
MULTNOMAH FALLS...CORBETT...RAYMOND...LONG BEACH...
CAPE DISAPPOINTMENT...LONGVIEW...KELSO...STEVENSON...SKAMANIA...
VANCOUVER...BATTLE GROUND...CAMAS...WASHOUGAL
556 AM PST THU FEB 24 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS
EVENING FOR THE SOUTH WASHINGTON COAST...NORTH OREGON COAST...
COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE...LOWLANDS OF SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON AND
NORTHWEST OREGON...INCLUDING THE PORTLAND AND VANCOUVER METRO
AREA...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR SNOW REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PST
THIS EVENING.

* TIMING...SNOW SHOWERS...SOME HEAVY...WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS
 EVENING BEFORE TAPERING OFF OVERNIGHT.

* ACCUMULATION...AN ADDITIONAL 1 TO 3 INCHES OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED
 BY THIS EVENING. THIS WILL BRING STORM TOTALS SINCE WEDNESDAY
 MORNING UP TO 2 TO 5 INCHES...WITH THE HEAVIEST AMOUNTS MOST
 COMMON IN THE HILLS.

* IMPACTS...SNOW IS ALREADY COATING MANY SECONDARY ROADS AND EVEN
 SOME HIGHWAYS ALONG THE COAST AND IN THE INLAND VALLEYS.
 ADDITIONAL SNOW AND FREEZING TEMPERATURES WILL SIGNIFICANTLY
 IMPACT THE MORNING COMMUTE TODAY. LESS IMPACT IS EXPECTED ON THE
 EVENING COMMUTE...THOUGH SOME LINGERING SNOW SHOWERS ARE STILL
 POSSIBLE. TEMPERATURES WILL FALL INTO THE UPPER TEENS AND 20S
 TONIGHT...WHICH WILL CAUSE WIDESPREAD REFREEZING PROBLEMS ON
 AREA ROADWAYS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING.  SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF
SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN
AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...
FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

Winter Storm Warning Continues for Vernonia, Mist 2-24-11

Winter Storm Warning

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
556 AM PST THU FEB 24 2011

...SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON AND NORTHWEST
OREGON THROUGH THIS EVENING...

.SNOW IS BEGINNING TO PICK UP EARLY THIS MORNING ACROSS MOST OF
SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON AND NORTHWEST OREGON...ALREADY ACCUMULATING
ON ROADS IN MANY AREAS JUST IN TIME FOR THE THURSDAY MORNING
COMMUTE. SNOW WILL CONTINUE AT TIMES THROUGH THIS EVENING...THEN
TAPER OFF TONIGHT AS DRIER AND EVEN COLDER AIR MOVES INTO THE
REGION. THE COMBINATION OF COLD AND WIND IN THE HIGHER TERRAIN
WILL LIKELY DROP WIND CHILLS BELOW ZERO FOR THE HIGHER CASCADES BY
FRIDAY MORNING.

ORZ003-004-WAZ020-250000-
/O.CON.KPQR.WS.W.0003.000000T0000Z-110225T0600Z/
COAST RANGE OF NORTHWEST OREGON-
CENTRAL COAST RANGE OF WESTERN OREGON-WILLAPA HILLS-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...VERNONIA
556 AM PST THU FEB 24 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS
EVENING FOR THE WILLAPA HILLS AND THE COAST RANGE OF NORTHERN AND
CENTRAL OREGON...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL
10 PM PST THIS EVENING.

* TIMING...SNOW SHOWERS...SOME HEAVY...WILL CONTINUE AT TIMES
 THROUGH THIS EVENING THEN TAPER OFF OVERNIGHT.

* ACCUMULATION...AN ADDITIONAL 2 TO 5 INCHES ARE EXPECTED BY THIS
 EVENING. THIS WILL BRING STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS SINCE TUESDAY
 UP TO 5 TO 10 INCHES FOR MOST AREAS...WITH 10 TO 15 INCHES IN
 THE HIGHER COAST RANGE ELEVATIONS.

* IMPACTS...ROADWAYS IN THE COAST RANGE ARE ICY AND SNOW
 COVERED...RESULTING IN SLICK DRIVING CONDITIONS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING.  SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF
SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN
AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...
FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

Winter Storm Watch for Columbia County

Winter Storm Watch

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
105 AM PST TUE FEB 22 2011

...SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL TO SEA LEVEL LOOKING MORE LIKELY
WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...

.UNSEASONABLY COLD WEATHER FOR LATE FEBRUARY WILL CAUSE SNOW
LEVELS TO FALL TO THE LOWER ELEVATIONS OF THE CASCADE FOOTHILLS
AND COAST RANGE OF SOUTHERN WASHINGTON AND NORTHERN OREGON BY
WEDNESDAY MORNING. MOIST ONSHORE FLOW WILL COMBINE WITH THESE
COLD TEMPERATURES TO PRODUCE SIGNIFICANT SNOW FOR THE HIGHER
TERRAIN TODAY.

AT SEA LEVEL...COLD AIR WILL BEGIN TO CHANGE RAIN TO SNOW
SOMETIME LATE TONIGHT OR EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING. THE FIRST BOUT
OF SNOW WILL BE HEAVY AND WET MAKING FOR A SLIPPERY WEDNESDAY
MORNING COMMUTE. THERE IS SOME CHANCE FOR A SWITCHOVER TO A RAIN
AND SNOW MIX BY MIDDAY WEDNESDAY BEFORE HEAVIER SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MIDDAY THURSDAY. THEN THURSDAY INTO
FRIDAY...LIGHTER SNOW SHOWERS AND COLD TEMPERATURES COULD RESULT
IN EVEN MORE SNOW ACCUMULATION TO SEA LEVEL.

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM TUESDAY TO
NOON PST WEDNESDAY FOR THE NORTH AND CENTRAL OREGON COAST RANGE
AND THE WILLAPA HILLS...THE SOUTH WASHINGTON...NORTH OREGON AND LANE
COUNTY CASCADE FOOTHILLS...
...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
THURSDAY MORNING FOR THE NORTH AND CENTRAL OREGON COAST RANGE
AND THE WILLAPA HILLS...THE SOUTH WASHINGTON...NORTH OREGON AND LANE
COUNTY CASCADE FOOTHILLS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PORTLAND HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WATCH FOR HEAVY SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING. THE WINTER WEATHER
ADVISORY FOR SNOW IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM TUESDAY TO NOON PST
WEDNESDAY.

* TIMING...SNOW WILL INCREASE EARLY TUESDAY MORNING...THEN
 CONTINUE AT TIMES THROUGH FRIDAY.

* SNOW LEVEL...SNOW LEVELS AROUND 1500 FT TONIGHT WILL LOWER TO
 THE SURFACE BY WEDNESDAY MORNING.

* ACCUMULATION...4 TO 8 INCHES ABOVE 1500 FT BY WEDNESDAY
 MORNING...FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER 8 TO 16 INCHES BY MIDDAY THURSDAY.


* IMPACTS...ROADWAYS IN THE COAST RANGE AND CASCADE FOOTHILLS WILL
 BECOME ICY AND SNOW COVERED...RESULTING IN SLICK DRIVING
 CONDITIONS...THAT WILL GET WORSE ESPECIALLY OVERNIGHT WEDNESDAY
 INTO THURSDAY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW
WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW
COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT
SNOW...SLEET...OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL.
CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.