![File image: A motorist, dressed in shorts, struggles to clear snow from a Hyundai Ioniq sports utility vehicle as snow falls, Friday, March 6, 2026, in Denver and [inset] an NWS map showing the impacted areas.](/cdn-cgi/image/onerror=redirect,width=640,height=640,format=webp/https://storage.googleapis.com/uploads.mongoosehq.com/url/media/124123276/b7b710ce3b6caed155de7e1bf1d7e613c2bf523511df266ae8d75f3478404fe2)
Overview
- The National Weather Service, which expanded alerts Wednesday, expects 1 to 2 feet of snow in the most exposed mountain ranges and hazardous travel into Thursday morning.
- In Oregon, warnings cover the Cascade crest and east slopes with 6 to 12 inches common and 4 to 8 inches above 4,000 feet on the east side, with wind gusts up to 45 mph cutting visibility.
- ODOT says crews will plow and deice around the clock and urges drivers to carry chains, delay nonessential trips, and check TripCheck for pass conditions.
- Forecasters warn that blowing snow and near-whiteout conditions could make backcountry travel dangerous as avalanche risk rises on new snow stacked over a spring snowpack.
- Most lower-elevation high desert areas will see cold rain with only spotty, light snow, but daytime melt and overnight refreeze can leave slick roads late tonight into Thursday morning.