Winter storm update for Portland

[WXBUFFJIM]

Good afternoon everyone. It's still below freezing in Portland, Oregon this morning with freezing rain coming down. The freezing rain is falling on top of 6 inches of snow in Portland and nearly a foot of snow in Troutdale, Oregon. Travel is extremely hazardous with numerous accidents. One such accident occurred early this morning on Interstate 5 at milers south of Portland where a vehicle overturned due to icy roads. A more recent accident on I 84 near Grand involves a jacknifed tractor trailer in icy interstates. The assumption based on that webcam is I 84 near Portland is shut due to the accident as alternate routes are required around that scene. Best bet is don't go out today, don't do it. In the case of opening the city hall in downtown Portland, anyone who doesn't report to work is considered to have a sick day. If that's the case, so be it. It's best to lose a day off from vacation or sick leave than to lose your life in these icy roads. By later today, temps should rise above the freezing mark in Portland.

Further east, I 84 is shut from Troutdale to Mount Hood. Up to 14 roads in Washington State are shut due to the icy and snow covered roads. A very dangerous situation. On top of all of that, the Portland Airport, PDX is shut. Flights are suspended and the airport is shut until 5 am Friday at the earliest. Some speculations is that could be even later than that. 5 am is the earliest call for PDX to reopen and resume flight operations. But it's a no go today.

Schools in Portland are shut for the third day in a row. 35,000 customers in Oregon are without power at this point aftr a peak of 58,000 earlier!!!

So what's happening, why all the prolonged ice in Portland and Troutdale and Vancouver?? It's that's pesky east wind coming off the gorge right into the Portland, and Troutdale area that's supplying the arctic air into the area. Temperature is 30 in Portland and 25 in Troutdale at last check. It essentially hasn't gone anywhere since last night temperature wise. It may rise to freezing later today in Portland. However it's been very stubborn to get the cold air out of Portland and Troutdale. As for Seattle, a more southerly wind is supplying a bit milder air into the city with above freezing temps.

Later in the forecast, freezing rain could change over to rain in Portland, which means two things. #1 thick ice will melt and fall from trees, powerlines, and towers. That means a dangerous and deadly situation because of thick falling ice. In addition to that, heavy rain could lead to flooding due to ice and snow melt on top of the heavy rain and milder temps. However temps may have a hard time breaking 40 tomorrow in Portland. Something to watch though with time.

Jim

[JCT777]

Thanks for the update on the situation in Portland. I hope it is able to warm up without too much rain.