Northwest businesses will see the first snowfall of the season, bringing near-blizzard conditions, bitter-cold temperatures

AccuWeather’s expert meteorologists are monitoring a pattern that will bring the season’s first widespread snowfall event across the Northwest. The storm could bring near-blizzard conditions and bitterly cold temperatures to the West and Plains of the United States. AccuWeather's Snow Warning Service™ customers will get exclusive start and stop times and updated accumulation totals throughout the storm. 

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From Monday to Thursday night, snowfall will accumulate across the Cascades, northern Rocky Mountains, and northern Plains, with travel disruptions, blizzard-like conditions, and bitterly cold air. Locations across the Oregon Cascades and a widespread zone from far northeastern Oregon, central and northern Idaho, Montana, northern Wyoming, and much of North Dakota are forecast to receive up to 6 inches of snow from the storm. A smaller corridor across western Montana into far northwestern Wyoming can have even higher snowfall totals of up to 12 inches. There is an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 30 inches. Gusty winds are expected to blow across the region, reducing visibility as snow spreads.

Temperatures will continue to tumble as the storm advances across the Rockies, and values will trend between 15-35 degrees Fahrenheit below the historical average for late October. This blast of arctic air will bring the season's lowest temperatures for many locations. Daytime highs may only climb to the 10s-20s by late week across parts of Montana and North Dakota. Widespread overnight temperatures are expected to dip to the single digits across a similar area, with some locations reaching subzero temperatures. 

This early winter storm is part of an abrupt pattern change across the West, bringing dramatically cooler conditions and chances for accumulating snowfall in the higher elevations. In the highest elevations of the Cascade Range, northern Rockies, and Colorado Rockies, snowfall amounts can total up to 24 inches from Sunday to Wednesday.

Winter storms can significantly impact businesses, causing disruptions in operations, supply chains, and revenue loss. Here are some ways winter storms can impact businesses:

• Power outages: Winter storms can cause power outages, disrupting business operations and severing internet connections that people need to do their jobs.
• Natural gas shortages: Managers of the electricity grid in affected areas may have to order rolling blackouts after many power plants are forced offline because of icy conditions, and some cannot get sufficient supplies of natural gas.
• Loss of productivity: Significant storms can preclude many workers from being able to report to their jobs, creating significant declines in revenue for the duration of the inclement weather or even a much longer period of time.
• Loss of sales: Consumer activity is usually suppressed during extreme weather events, leading to massive losses in sales and revenue. 
• Damage to property: Heavy snow can collapse roofs of buildings and knock down trees and power lines, causing extensive property damage.
  

>>READ MORE: WINTER DANGERS: Accumulating heavy snow increases the risks of roof collapse

Businesses using AccuWeather’s Snow Warning Service™ are the best prepared for winter storms, and their employees are safer because they receive the most advance notice and more accurate, pinpoint forecasts. Clients received the start and stop times and accumulation totals throughout the storm. Receiving more advance notice allows businesses to plan accordingly and adjust staffing levels. 

Protect your business and team members by making the best weather-impacted decisions with AccuWeather's Snow Warning Service, backed by forecasts and warnings with Superior Accuracy™. Businesses get location-specific forecasts and 24x7x365 consulting services for snow, ice, blizzards, and other winter-hazard events. 

AccuWeather's Snow Warning Service features include: 

• Precise weather event start and end times
• Total expected snow and ice accumulations
• Specific changeover times for snow, ice, and rain
• Hourly temperatures and wind conditions before, during, and after the storm
• Post-storm weather conditions, including verified precipitation amounts. 

Reduce liability, increase safety, and substantially reduce the risk of injury to your employees and customers with AccuWeather For Business. Contact us today for more about how we can help your business be better prepared and your people safer.