PORTLAND, Oregon — The Willamette Valley and southwest Washington could see sticking snow starting Tuesday night and into early Wednesday morning. Downtown Portland is expected to stay wet and may only see snowflakes in the air.
Around 10 p.m. on Tuesday, models show rain will transition to snow over Portland and southwest Washington, KGW Meteorologist Rod Hill reported.
"A low pressure center will approach this evening, bringing hours of steady, heavier moisture," Hill said.
Any location with an elevation of 250 feet and higher will have the best chance of seeing sticking snow, according to Hill, though snow spots may not be uniform. Areas above 500 feet, including the Sylvan exit on Highway 26 and Council Crest, could see two to six inches of heavy, wet snow on the ground.
PHOTOS: Snow falls in Portland area, southwest Washington
Downtown Portland may only see snowflakes and wet roads because temperatures in the city center will likely stay above freezing.
"While downtown Portland may see snowflakes in the air, the city center will likely hold in the mid-30s or 37 degrees with wet roadways through the night," Hill said.
Anything that sticks to the ground around the Willamette Valley is expected to melt when Wednesday daytime temperatures quickly rise to 40 degrees, Hill said. The snow levels will rise to 1,500 feet.
How to check your elevation
The Portland metro area is filled with a variety of hill sizes and flatter ground, so it might be difficult to know the exact elevation of your neighborhood. The National Weather Service (NWS) lists the elevations of locations around the Portland metro area.
- Downtown Portland: 20 feet in elevation
- Washington Park Zoo: 600 feet in elevation
- Mount Tabor: 550 feet in elevation
- Council Crest: 1,073 feet in elevation
- Sunset/Sylvan exit: 750 feet in elevation
Don't see your location listed above? The NWS has an in-depth elevations chart on their website.
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