Summit forecast, next 72 hours
- New snow0 in
- Strongest gusts15 mphWednesday Night
- Coldest28°F
| Forecast | Snow | Gusts | Temp °F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus DaySunny | 0 in | 15 mph | High 47° |
| TonightMostly Clear | 0 in | 10 mph | Low 27° |
| TuesdaySunny | 0 in | 10 mph | High 55° |
| Tuesday NightMostly Cloudy | 0 in | 10 mph | Low 34° |
| WednesdaySunny | 0 in | 10 mph | High 61° |
| Wednesday NightMostly Clear | 0 in | 15 mph | Low 36° |
Snow is the forecast new accumulation at the summit grid point. Dots use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
Typical weather by month
Monthly normals from the long-term stations nearest the summit. None sits exactly on the pass, so each column says how far away and how high it is.
| Month | McKenzie 4,770 ft · 5 mi southwest of the summit | Santiam Junction 3,750 ft · 14 mi northwest of the summit | Bend 3,660 ft · 29 mi southeast of the summit | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precip (in) | High / low °F | High / low °F | Snow (in) | |
| Jan | 13.6 | 38° / 24° | 43° / 25° | 6.4 |
| Feb | 10.0 | 41° / 24° | 46° / 24° | 5.5 |
| Mar | 11.1 | 44° / 26° | 52° / 28° | 1.5 |
| Apr | 9.1 | 49° / 29° | 58° / 31° | 0.7 |
| May | 6.3 | 58° / 35° | 66° / 37° | 0 |
| Jun | 4.2 | 65° / 38° | 74° / 42° | 0 |
| Jul | 0.8 | 76° / 42° | 84° / 49° | 0 |
| Aug | 1.1 | 77° / 42° | 83° / 48° | 0 |
| Sep | 3.3 | 69° / 39° | 76° / 41° | 0 |
| Oct | 8.0 | 56° / 33° | 63° / 34° | 0.2 |
| Nov | 13.4 | 42° / 28° | 49° / 28° | 2.0 |
| Dec | 15.6 | 36° / 23° | 41° / 23° | 5.3 |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: Mckenzie (USS0021E07S, 4,770 ft); SANTIAM JUNCTION (USC00357554, 3,750 ft); BEND (USC00350694, 3,660 ft). Snow days are days with at least 1 inch of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Cameras, road reports and winter rules
Conditions on the pass change by the hour, so these go straight to the official sources.
Closes for the winter. ODOT says that “every year, the treasured scenic route of McKenzie Pass, OR 242, is seasonally closed from November to mid-June.” ODOT: McKenzie Highway (OR 242)
- For this passODOT: McKenzie Highway (OR 242) status
- Oregon · ODOTTripCheck road conditions
- Oregon · winter rulesChain laws
Check the official National Weather Service forecast for the summit and the road report before you leave.
Crossing McKenzie Pass? See the summit at the hour you’ll be there
Road Travel times the forecast to your drive, so you see conditions at the summit when you will actually reach it, and get alerts about weather ahead on the way.
Questions about McKenzie Pass
How high is McKenzie Pass?
The summit is 5,344 ft above sea level, on OR-242.
How far is McKenzie Pass from Sisters and McKenzie Bridge?
By road, the summit is 15 miles from Sisters, OR and 26 miles from McKenzie Bridge, OR.
Is McKenzie Pass open in winter?
No. ODOT says that “every year, the treasured scenic route of McKenzie Pass, OR 242, is seasonally closed from November to mid-June.”
What is the wettest month at McKenzie Pass?
December. The McKenzie snow-monitoring site (4,770 ft, 5 mi southwest of the summit) averages 15.6 inches of precipitation that month, counting the water in melted snow (1991–2020 normals).
How cold does it get near McKenzie Pass?
The coldest month is December. Santiam Junction (3,750 ft, 14 mi northwest of the summit) averages a low of 23°F then (1991–2020 normals); the summit is 1,594 ft higher.