Stormy and Cold Weather Continues on West Coast (VIDEO)

Arctic air is spreading across the Pacific Northwest with only a slight moderating trend later in the weekend into early next week.

Video and images courtesy: Accuweather.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - Tonight could see temperatures dropping to as low as 19 degrees in Salem. The capitol city will be one of the colder places in Western Oregon. Portland is expected to stay warmer with a low of 24 degrees tonight, Eugene is expecting a low of 22 and McMinnville will see temperatures dropping to around 21 degrees.

Tomorrow expect a high temperature of 38 locally, forecasters say it will feel more like 34 degrees though. Winds are expected to remain fairly calm at 6 mph out of the south, gusts up to 10 mph can be expected. Things couild get exciting Thursday as mostly cloudy and cold conditions are expected with snow, accumulating a coating to an inch

A storm spinning off the coast of California Wednesday brought more rain and snow to much of the state. Heading into Thursday, the storm will move east into the Four Corners region.

The Winter Weather Center reports the storm will spread eastward into the Colorado Rockies later Wednesday night into Thursday where snowfall could reach up to a foot. Gusty winds will create areas of blowing and drifting snow that will cause travel problems in mountain passes.

The wind, rain and snow will continue to impact Southern California through Wednesday night. Rain could lead to flash flooding, while snow falls in the mountains. Snow levels across Southern California will drop to near 3,000 feet overnight with a general 6-12 inches of snow at pass level with 1 to 2 feet above 5,000 feet. This will lead to treacherous driving conditions along the Grapevine and over Cajon Pass, the major route between Southern California and Nevada.

The Severe Weather Center lists the flood and winter storm watches and warnings in effect across Southern California.

A second storm will skirt past the Northwest coast Thursday and will be positioned just off the coast of California by Friday. This system will tap into abundant moisture from the Pacific, prolonging the threat of flooding across California, while more snow falls in the mountains. This storm will be in no hurry to leave resulting in times of rain and mountain snow lingering through the weekend.

Arctic air continues to spread across the Intermountain West and Pacific Northwest with only a slight moderating trend later in the weekend into early next week.

Video

Source: Accuweather.com

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