Sunday was the day Portland saw it’s first snow fall. Experts say there is still a chance for a few showers this week. They also expect the first couple days of the week to be milder and drier with daytime highs in the Portland metro area reaching the lower 40s. At the end of the week, there is a prediction of a storm system with lowland rain and mountain snow is set for Thursday.
I-84 saw multiple crashes in both directions, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office said. For example, there was a semi-truck jackknifed at Milepost 25. The Cascades and Central and Eastern parts of the region are still cold. Meteorologists say that the snow will stay on the ground especially in high elevation areas.
Residents in certain parts of Portland are being told to use caution when heading out on back or neighborhood roads in the hills of Portland, higher elevations of Clark and Cowlitz counties, and The Gorge. Crews spent time trying to stay ahead of the assignment placing almost 5000 gallons of de-icer on designated routes Saturday night.
The roads were to be taken seriously. For instance, the Washington State Department of Transportation tweeted traction tires are advised for anyone traveling on SR-14. At the same time, ODOT’s TripCheck tweeted a reminder that traction tires and chains are advised for travelers in the Cascade Locks/Hood River area.
The local and state agencies were busy this past weekend. Germantown Road from Skyline and Bridge was closed from the slick conditions for hours, but re-opened shortly before 8 p.m. The Oregon Zoo announced that ZooLights was closed last Sunday night. Similar calls will be made by authorities if the weather repeats it’s pattern.
