Wax your skis, break out your winter boots and scour the mountain forecasts: A white blanket has returned to the Cascades.

That's right -- fresh snow is back. It's accumulating on Mount Hood, as well as Santiam and Willamette passes. There's even a snowy look at Mt. Hood Meadows and Timberline Ski Area, but don't expect either to open for the winter season just yet.

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Beth Nakamura/File

Snow is pictured in an Oregonian/OregonLive file photo.

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The National Weather Service said late Sunday that snow levels would fall to 5,000 to 5,500 feet that night and stay there through Tuesday night.

"Several inches of snow are likely above these elevations through Tuesday night," the agency said. "Most of the snow will be above pass level but those venturing to the higher elevations for recreation should be prepared for wintertime conditions."

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Snowing at Meadows - top of Blue Lift Can't wait to see what it looks like in the morning! If feels like Christmas! Posted by Mt. Hood Meadows on Sunday, October 28, 2018

Mt. Hood Meadows has gotten some snow. The resort plans to open in late November, conditions permitting.

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Central Oregon's Mt. Bachelor got some snow, too.

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Snow levels will rise significantly Wednesday through Friday, the weather service said.

The agency said 3 to 7 inches of snow could pile up during the day Monday at Timberline Lodge, which sits at 6,000 feet elevation. Another 1 to 3 inches could accumulate Monday night.

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TripCheck.com

Traffic cameras show snow at Santiam and Willamette Passes early Monday, Oct. 29, 2018.

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Drivers should be ready to encounter winter-like conditions at higher elevations. And skiers should begin obsessively checking the mountain forecasts -- if they haven't already.

Don't get too stoked, though. Forecasters call for rain at Timberline and elsewhere in the Cascades later this week.

-- Jim Ryan