Full Notification

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
638 AM PDT MON MAY 20 2013

..MUCH COOLER WEATHER EXPECTED TUESDAY WITH PASS LEVEL SNOW BY WEDNESDAY...

A COLD LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL APPROACH THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST THIS AFTERNOON AND BEGIN SPREADING LIGHT RAIN ACROSS SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON AND NORTHWEST OREGON LATE TONIGHT INTO TUESDAY MORNING.
THERE WILL BE A DRASTIC CHANGE IN TEMPERATURES TUESDAY AFTERNOON WHERE MANY LOCATIONS WILL EXPERIENCE TEMPERATURES 20 DEGREES COOLER THAN WHAT IS EXPECTED FOR THIS AFTERNOON.

SNOW LEVELS WILL START OUT HIGH...NEAR 8000 FEET TONIGHT...THEN LOWER TO AROUND 3000 FEET BY TUESDAY EVENING. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN BELOW ADVISORY CONDITIONS WITH 2 TO 4 INCHES EXPECTED BETWEEN 3000 AND 6000 FEET TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY. HIGHER SNOW AMOUNTS...7 TO 9 INCHES IS LIKELY ABOVE 6000 FEET.

ANOTHER POTENTIAL HAZARD WITH THIS STORM IS SMALL HAIL. MANY LOCATIONS WILL LIKELY EXPERIENCE SMALL HAIL WITH THE HEAVIER SHOWERS POSSIBLY RESULTING IN EXTRA SLICK ROADWAYS.

DRIVERS SHOULD USE EXTRA CAUTION...ESPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING OVER THE CASCADE PASSES OR ENCOUNTERING SMALL HAIL ON THE ROADS. SLOW DOWN AND LEAVE PLENTY OF ROOM BETWEEN CARS.

HIKERS AND CLIMBERS VENTURING INTO THE MOUNTAINS WILL WANT TO BE PREPARED FOR A QUICK CHANGE TO COLD AND WET WEATHER ON TUESDAY...ESPECIALLY FOLLOWING A DECEPTIVELY WARM AND SUNNY MONDAY. FROM 3000 FEET AND UP...BE PREPARED FOR ACCUMULATING SNOW STARTING LATER TUESDAY AND CONTINUING THROUGH AT LEAST WEDNESDAY NIGHT.