Heavy Snow — Northern Blue Mountains, Oregon

2023-02-13 to 2023-02-14 · Northern Blue Mountains, Oregon

Event narrative

The SNOTEL site MLKO3(Milk Shakes) recorded 18 inches over a 17 hour period ending at 0300 on Feb 14th, and the SNOTEL site HIRO3(High Ridge) recorded 12 inches in a 15 hour period ending 0300 Feb 14th.

Wider weather episode

An upper-level shortwave trough and strong cold-frontal boundary pushed through the region the morning of Feb 13th followed by a period post-frontal showers the rest of the 13th driven by anomalous cold air aloft. A secondary wave feature dropping southward from BC the night of the 13th into the 14th provided a period of substantially increased snow showers over the mountains, particularly the Oregon Cascades.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1083566. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.