Don’t put away those shovels just yet. Three to six more inches of snow could be on its way to Central Oregon today and Thursday.

”For Central Oregon we’ll see some accumulation, but not enough to have a winter storm watch,” said Mary Smith, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Pendleton.

Central Oregon will probably see scattered snow showers throughout today and into the weekend, Smith said. Today’s high is expected to be in the upper 20s to lower 30s, with temperatures dropping into the teens at night.

”We have one (weather) system after another,” Smith said. ”Each one bringing in more snow.”

She forecasts that Central Oregon will see the most snowfall on Thursday, but the weather system should move out of the area quickly. Thursday’s high should be in the lower 30s, with the temperature dropping at night into the lower 20s.

More snow is also predicted for the mountains.

By this afternoon, the mountains should see 8 to 11 inches of new snow, said Miles Higa, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Portland. And on Saturday, a similar dump of snow in the mountains should more than satisfy skiers – but not drivers.

”It will definitely be winter driving up there (in mountain passes),” Higa said.

According to Oregon Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) Web site on Tuesday afternoon, Santiam Pass and Government Camp had packed snow on road surfaces. Chains were required for any vehicle that did not have traction tires.

Check www.tripcheck.com for the latest information. People can also dial 511 or 800-977-ODOT for road conditions and weather information.

Joel McCarroll, ODOT regional traffic manager for Central Oregon, said people must drive carefully, especially on the New Year’s Eve holiday.

”First and foremost, don’t drink and drive, regardless of the weather,” McCarroll said.

If a trip is part of people’s holiday plans, McCarroll said drivers should be prepared before getting on the road. He said drivers should make sure they have a full tank of gas, food, water and clothing if the weather turns bad.

”No trip is worth getting in an accident over,” he said.

During Tuesday’s break from snow flurries, Kyle Christensen’s tongue stuck out of his mouth while he concentrated on shoveling snow at his family’s Bend home.

”It just keeps coming so you have to do it (shovel) everyday,” said Christensen, 10, a fifth grader at Juniper Elementary School in Bend.

Bundled up in a winter jacket and hat, he said his muscles were starting to hurt from shoveling so much snow. If more snow comes, he said, his dad will have to take over the shoveling.

”Your muscles start to burn from picking it (snow) up,” the youngster said.

Ailey Kato can be reached at 541-383-0387 or at akato@bendbulletin.com.