Weather and Climate

Why You Might Be Able To 'Smell' Snow Coming

Jessica Robinson — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 22:46:47 +0000

Snow is expected east of the Cascades this week. But some people say they don't need forecasters to tell them that -- they claim to be able to "smell" when snow coming. Enough people in the Northwest say this, but is there a scientific explanation?

Laura Munson is a writer living in northwest Montana. She swears she can tell when it's going to snow -- even if people don't believe her.

"I can remember this time of hanging out with this group of people.

High Winds, Heavy Rain Pummel The Northwest

Chris Lehman — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 01:35:10 +0000

High winds and heavy rain are pummeling the Northwest Monday. Downed trees and floodwaters have closed countless roads, making the evening commute a difficult one. Salem Correspondent Chris Lehman went to check out a creek near his home.

Forecast For High Risk Of Landslides Coming True

Tom Banse — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 01:32:04 +0000

Oregon's Department of Geology put all of western Oregon on notice for increased potential of landslides Monday. Across the Columbia River, state geologists in Washington reclassified Pacific and Clark counties to "high hazard" for landslides.

Heavy Rain Sets Off Landslides Around Region

Tom Banse — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:39:36 +0000

Heavy rains and high winds are making it hard to get around parts of western Washington and northwest Oregon this afternoon. Flood watches and warnings are in effect across a wide area of the Northwest. At least half a dozen mudslides have blocked highways and rail lines since this morning.

First Snow Of The Season Forecast For Mountain Passes

Tom Banse — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 23:40:07 +0000

The National Weather Service is predicting the first snowfall of the season this weekend in the mountain passes around the Northwest. Cold air arriving behind a frontal system could drop the snow level to around 3,000 feet in Washington and generally between 3,000 and 4,000 feet in the Oregon Cascades through early next week.

Forecast Predicts Drier Than Normal Winter For Northwest

Tom Banse — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 23:45:25 +0000

Rain may be in the forecast for much of the region tonight and tomorrow, but the Northwest is in for a drier than normal winter. That's according to an updated long-term forecast released Thursday by the National Weather Service.

Northwest Skiers Bank On Early Forecasts Being Wrong

Jessica Robinson — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 22:59:10 +0000

Weather forecasters say the current dry spell in the Northwest may turn into a dry winter. But the region’s ski areas aren’t buying it. They’re banking on enough snowfall for winter sports.

Dry Spell Likely To Continue In Northwest

Chris Lehman — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 00:20:21 +0000

Northwesterners heading out for the Labor Day weekend have a pretty good chance of staying dry. The region is in the midst of one of the driest streaks on record. And there's little chance of that changing soon.

Campers Evacuated As Wildfires Burn Across Northwest

Chris Lehman — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 00:40:06 +0000

Two hunters who were reported missing during a wildfire in eastern Oregon have been located and are safe. But Grant County Sheriff Glenn Palmer says there's new concern about a pair of hikers who are thought to be in the vicinity of the Parish Cabin Fire.

Oregon Wildfire Now Largest In A Century

Amelia Templeton — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 23:03:54 +0000

A wildfire burning in southeastern Oregon has become the state’s largest blaze in more than a century. The Long Draw Fire has burned more than 800 square miles in southeast Oregon.