A prolonged cold snap grips the region through midweek, followed by fresh snowfall and potentially strong winds as two distinct storms arrive Thursday through Friday and again Saturday into early next week. Persistent cold air lingers prior to these events, but once moisture returns, several rounds of moderate to heavy mountain snow are likely.
The Thursday to Friday Winter System brings a new round of snow to the Cascades and surrounding ranges. This incoming storm taps into fresh moisture but also encounters the entrenched cold air, allowing snowfall at relatively low elevations. Most areas should see snow levels hover around 1,000–2,000 feet early Thursday before gradually rising by Friday. Higher peaks of the Cascades and the volcanic complexes in Oregon and Washington will likely rack up moderate accumulations, with breezy east to southeast winds factoring into exposed slopes. Temperatures will remain cold enough for snow or a wintry mix, especially near passes and across the eastern slopes of the mountains…