Spring Break Starts Off with Snow in Oregon Coast Range, Higher Gas

Published 03/07/2010

Highway 26 to the coast could look a little like this early in the week.

(Oregon Coast) – The weird thing about travel and tourism this year in Oregon has been the extremely warm, even occasionally balmy winter, and the odd, topsy-turvy occurrence of snow that’s about to hit the coast range and the Cascade mountains early this week.

Still, as usual this time of year, gas prices are starting to rise, says the AAA.

A sizable amount of a snow storm is about to hit the coast range and the Cascades this week, said the National Weather Service (NWS).

“The lowest snow levels since last December are expected early this coming week,” the NWS said in a bulletin. “After January and February brought one of the mildest starts to the year in much of southwest Washington and northwest Oregon, a cold weather system will move in Sunday night and Monday from the Gulf of Alaska and bring the lowest snow levels to the area since last December.”

Highway 26 near one of the summits, during a snow event.

The NWS said snow levels will drop sharply later on Sunday as well as on Monday, behind a rather strong cold front. They could be down to around 1500 feet to as low as 1000 feet, which would make for precarious travel conditions through the Cascade Mountains and affect the even more temperate coast range passes to the coast.

Several inches of snow are expected in the Cascades and the coastal mountains, with some light snow expected to hit the higher hills of Portland and Vancouver.

This cold upper level system will move across the region on Monday, keeping snow levels lower. Hail and some thunder claps are also possible in the coast range and Cascades during that time.

Highway 101 at Newport

The cold air system will likely be followed by another on Tuesday and Wednesday, which will force many of the snow conditions to continue.

“Motorists traveling through the Cascades this week should be prepared for snow covered roads,” the NWS said.

Some snow accumulation is expected in the coast range passes as well.

Usually, daytime hours make passage to and from the coast quite safe and problem free during these events. Still, it is best to check TripCheck.com before you head out to make sure, or the Oregon Coast Weather pages at BeachConnection.net.

Gearhart, on the north Oregon coast

Meanwhile, gas prices in Oregon have begun to rise again, according to the AAA..

“This is often the time of year when retail gas prices start to increase, and that's the case this week,” the AAA said this week.

The national average for regular unleaded rises four cents to $2.70, and Oregon's average jumps six cents to $2.81.  Both averages are at their highest point since early January.

The AAA said the price of crude has been hovering around $80 a barrel for several days now, putting upward pressure on pump prices.  In addition, this is the time of year when seasonal demand trends tend to send retail prices higher.  Historically, pump prices climb as the spring and summer driving season approaches. 

Depoe Bay

Gas prices were fairly steady in February, with the national average remaining between about $2.61 and $2.71.

“Oregon's average was in an even tighter band between about $2.72 and $2.78,” the AAA said. This relative stability comes despite the fact oil prices were subject to some measure of volatility.

For more Oregon Coast weather and road information, click here

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