Winter Storm Watch Issued For Region

A winter storm watch was issued Friday by the National Weather Service for possibly heavy snow starting this afternoon.

Forecasters said the snow could change to freezing rain or rain by Sunday as a surge of warm air moves ashore from the Oregon coast starting today.

Upper level winds offshore are expected to send heavy moisture from the subtropical waters near Hawaii in a weather pattern sometimes called the Pineapple Express.

Cold air on the ground in the Inland Northwest should keep the early phases of the storm snowy, but the warming trend is expected to turn precipitation to rain on Sunday.

Forecasters said snow and rain amounts could be heavy, but did not specify potential snowfall amounts in the forecasts issued Friday night. , DataTimes