When a snowflake icon popped up in weather apps earlier in the week, many wondered whether Salem and the Mid-Willamette Valley would finally see measurable snow this year.

But weather officials said the chance for snow Saturday is low — about 20% — and the likelihood that it'll still be there when residents on the valley floor wake up Sunday is even lower.

A system bringing in rain is forecasted to break up this week's stretch of sunny days starting Friday and continuing Saturday. Up to a half-inch of rain is expected on Friday. Saturday could see about a tenth to a quarter-inch of rain.

Snow levels will begin dropping gradually until midnight Saturday, when it will hit 200 feet.

That time is the most likely to see snow, said Treena Jensen, a senior meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Portland.

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"It'll be a really brief period late Saturday night," she said. "It'll probably be more of a rain-snow mix."

Any snow on the valley floor is not expected to stick around until Sunday morning.

"We are not expecting the snow to accumulate on road surfaces because the roads are just too warm," Jensen said.

But snow is more likely to stick around in areas with higher elevations, especially the Coast Range and Cascade foothills east of Salem, which could get up to three inches of snow starting Friday night.

Travelers heading to the coast and Cascades should expect snow, Jensen said.

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Sunday will dawn clear but cold with a high of 46 and a low of 30.

Days will remain clear and warm up as the workweek begins, but nights are expected to stay cold and reach below freezing temperatures.

Saturday could be Salem's last chance for snow this winter. Storms, like the December 2016 snowfall that snarled traffic and closed schools, have been noticeably absent this year.

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Jensen said no measurable amount of snow has been recorded at the Salem airport since November.

For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodwort@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-399-6884 or follow on Twitter @wmwoodworth