Drenched by days of heavy rain, western Oregon may get hit by a "significant winter storm" before the Thanksgiving weekend is over, the National Weather Service said Friday.

The storm was expected to approach the coast late Saturday, then move through northwest Oregon and southwest Washington Sunday.

Strong winds with gusts of more than 60 miles an hour were forecast for the coast.

In the Cascades, the storm was expected to bring more snow to the mountain passes.

On Friday afternoon, ODOT reported that at Santiam Pass on Highway 20, it was 29 degrees with snow flurries and there was packed snow on the road. Traction tires were still allowed in place of chains on passenger vehicles, but vehicles towing trailers were required to use chains.

Two inches of new snow had fallen during the day. The roadside snow depth was 32 inches.

More snow was expected to cause travel problems in the Cascades on Sunday, the Weather Service said.

"It also appears increasingly likely that modified arctic air behind this strong system will spread into northwest Oregon Sunday night and Monday," the service said from Portland.

"This could bring snow levels close to the valley floors by Monday, though precipitation looks to be more showery and accumulations will be somewhat limited."

More than 2 inches of rain soaked the mid-valley in the three days before Thanksgiving, according to readings at the Hyslop weather station between Albany and Corvallis.

The mid-valley forecast issued Friday evening called for a chance of showers Saturday with a high of 45, followed by rain and lows down to 35 Saturday night.

The service forecast rain for Sunday and snow showers Monday through Tuesday night, with nighttime temperatures dipping to around 30 degrees.

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