The Portland area started seeing snow, sleet and freezing temperatures on Thursday – and Mother Nature was just getting started.
A winter storm alert for the Portland area remains in effect until midday on Friday, alerting residents to a flood of winter precipitation, strong winds and ice. And the National Meteorological Service said things could get even more serious, with the potential for a “significant ice storm” between Portland and Salem starting Friday afternoon and continuing over the weekend.
Many areas were already experiencing ice conditions on Thursday, with several accidents closing roads and delaying travel throughout the Portland area. A stretch of Northwest Germantown Road in West Hills was closed indefinitely, for example, because of icy conditions and stationary cars.
Transport officials warned of road closures, and security agencies asked people not to drive if they didn’t have to.
Precipitation is expected to increase on Friday and Saturday. But whether the Portland area will receive freezing rain, snow or a combination of the two, remains to be seen.
The meteorological service said the area is more likely to receive between 2.5 and 10 centimeters of snow and then about half a centimeter of freezing rain. But the city can see more significant freezing rain – and less snow.
The weather service also predicted that strong winds will sweep the area in the coming days, with wind speeds of 15 to 40 mph and gusts of up to 40 mph.
The agency predicts that temperatures will reach 31 degrees on Friday in Portland. The highs are expected to stay above zero on the weekend, but overnight temperatures on Saturday are expected to drop to the mid-20s.
Snow is expected to continue over the weekend, with the weather service between 2.5 and 10 centimeters of snow on Saturday in Portland.
Portland transportation officials listed four road closures on Thursday night: Germantown Road; Northeast 33rd Avenue on Sandy Boulevard; Northeast Halsey Street from avenues 80 to 84; and Southwest Capitol Highway from Terwilliger to Barbur Avenue.
TriMet said on Thursday night that some of its bus routes would be altered because of the weather. MAX trains were not affected by the weather, according to the public transport agency, but the trains used ice cutters on some routes.
Meanwhile, more than 4,000 Portland General Electric customers were without power at 8pm.
Thursday brought a harsher climate to the Columbia River gorge.
The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office reported several accidents, poor visibility and dangerous road conditions on Interstate 84 in the gorge. Towing companies would likely take more than three hours to reach disabled vehicles, according to the agency.
A rare blizzard warning in the western part of the gorge also remains in effect until midday on Friday.
-Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; [email protected]; @JRamakrishnanOR