NWS warns Oakridge, Blue River to see accumulating snow next week

Portions of eastern Lane County, including Oakridge and Blue River, are likely to see accumulating snow on March 10, the National Weather Service warned on March 6, 2026. The advisory singles out higher‑elevation communities in the Cascade foothills as the primary areas at risk for measurable snowfall next week.

The NWS said there’s a 60-80% chance more than 2 inches of snow will fall in portions of Oregon above 1,000 feet in the Cascade foothills, such as Oakridge and McKenzie Bridge. Forecasters also flagged the higher mountain corridors: NWS said there's a 40-60% chance for 6 inches or more of snow to accumulate in the Cascade passes.

The forecast explicitly separates the foothills from the Willamette Valley. NWS predicted snow will not extend to the Willamette Valley. Eugene has no chance of snow and Cottage Grove has about a 1% chance of seeing at least 0.1 inch on the morning of March 10. Those probabilities underscore how elevation will drive impacts across Lane County.

Officials urged caution for anyone planning travel through the affected areas. The NWS warned, "The snow will make roads slick and people going through those areas should drive cautiously." That guidance is particularly relevant for Jefferson, Oakridge and McKenzie Bridge routes that climb above 1,000 feet and for anyone headed toward the Cascade passes where heavier accumulations are possible.

The advisory was issued amid a short swing in conditions this weekend: "After a beautiful and seasonally warm day on Saturday, March 7, rain returns on Sunday with a 70% chance of precipitation overnight." Model guidance cited by NWS also shows cooler nights before the snow event, with Eugene-Springfield expected to see near-freezing temperatures the night of March 9, when NWS predicts a low of 34 degrees.

An archival photo accompanying the forecast shows the kind of winter conditions that can follow in higher country: "Erin Rodewald takes in the winter splender as she crosses Trapper Creek on a footbridge near Odell Lake. Rodewald drove up from Oakridge for the day to walk through the snow Friday, Oct. 27, 2023." That image is illustrative of the foothills’ susceptibility to early‑season snow even when the valley remains rain‑dominated.

The National Weather Service supplied the probabilistic guidance reported March 6, 2026. Alan Torres covers local government for the Register‑Guard and can be reached at atorres@registerguard.com, on X @alanfryetorres or on Reddit at u/AlfrytRG.