Pacific Northwest Braces for Powerful Winter Storm and Heavy Snowfall

Oregon is bracing for a week-long downpour as an atmospheric river, known as the "Pineapple Express," takes direct aim at the state. The rainfall, combined with 20 to 30 inches of fresh snow in the Oregon Cascades, is expected to intensify over the weekend. The Pineapple Express phenomenon occurs when a narrow band of moisture funnels precipitation from Hawaii to the Western U.S. and Canada, bringing heightened levels of rain and snow. Oregon is predicted to experience its warmest and wettest stretch of the storm between Sunday and Tuesday.