Portland winter weather: Snowstorm dumps more than foot

Five things to track about Wednesday's snowstorm:

• Traffic:
• Closures:
• Forecast: The metro area may get a dusting Wednesday night, a National Weather Service meteorologist said. But the low-pressure system responsible for our first-class winter storm is weakening and headed to southern Oregon.
• Power outages:
• State of emergency:

Update, 7:13 p.m.: You can still find tire chains in some Portland-area stores. Supplies are very tight, but we've identified a few locations that can help you out if repeated chain-up orders and real-world slippage have finally convinced you it's time to buy.

7:00 p.m.: Small business owners struggled on Wednesday with what's becoming a routine and wrenching decision this winter: to open, or not to open. Economists say that consumers make up for lost shopping days after storm cloud clear, but in the short run some retailers were turning to deep discounts and other improvisations.

Employees at Hawthorne Auto Clinic ensured they'd have work to do by thinking ahead on Tuesday night. They moved cars awaiting service into the garage and out of the arriving snow. Co-owner Jim Houser told The Oregonian/OregonLive, "If this goes on for more than a day or two, we'll not have enough work."

6:36 p.m.: Almost 19,000 Portland General Electric customers remain without power, as of 6:20 p.m.

A utility spokesman said around 5 p.m. that it's going to take "probably days not hours" to return power to all the remaining customers.

6:33 p.m.: Portland's traction device requirement on Southwest Sam Jackson Park RUpd wasn't making much of a difference late afternoon, as commuters and patient relatives made do with what they had.

"Sometimes you do what you have to do," said Nancy Reade, 60, who had driven with her husband to the hospital from Alsea with all-season tires and no chains. Her husband had a cardiac seizure, she said, and a Corvallis hospital said it would be best for him to go to OHSU. She'll try to buy chains, Reade said, but it won't be a priority.

"I'm not going to go hunting all over a town I don't know," she said.

Another driver was confident her Subaru Outback's all-wheel drive would keep her safe. Still, "Megan" asked that her full name not be used for fear that her colleagues at OHSU would find out she didn't have appropriate tires.

The majority of people stopped by The Oregonian/OregonLive said they had traction tires and would've had them on with or without the requirement.

5:45 p.m.: We've added a road closures map based on the Portland Bureau of Transportation's latest list, updated at 4:25 p.m.

4:10 p.m.: The Oregon transportation department lifted the snow-chain order in the Portland area for passenger cars earlier Wednesday, but chains are still required for trucks.

3:18 p.m.: The latest storm delivered 7 more inches of snow to Bend -- bringing the on-the-ground total to 2 feet. That's a record one-day measurement. The previous mark was 16 inches set in January 1993, said Dennis Hull, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Pendleton.

The pile-up is close to breaking the accumulation record for the month -- 25 inches, set in 1943 and matched in 1950, Hull said.

Sunriver has more than 3 1/2 feet of snow as of Wednesday, including 9 inches that fell Tuesday night and Wednesday, Hull said. He didn't know if that's a record.

People also have called the weather service to report accumulations of 13 to 20 inches in Redmond, 2 feet in Madras and about 3 feet in Sisters.

2:32 p.m.: C-tran announced a series of route changes for Thursday because of the weather:

• Express routes 105, 134 and 199 into Portland will travel only to the MAX stop at Delta Park. Route 164 will travel to the MAX stop at Parkrose.
• Routes 157, 177, 190 and all Connectors will not operate.
• Routes 2, 6, 9, 19, 32 and 47 will begin Thursday on snow routes.
• C-VAN will only operate for life-sustaining trips.
• The Vine will be served by regular 40-foot buses and will stop at the nearest safe location adjacent to Vine stations.

1:50 p.m.: A 10-year-old girl was hit by a car while she was playing in the snow in Southeast Portland on Wednesday, Portland police said.

The girl ran into the street at Southeast 130th Avenue and Southeast Sherman Street and was struck by a car, police spokesman Sgt. Pete Simpson said. She was taken to the hospital, but her injuries weren't life-threatening, Simpson said.

1:19 p.m.: Despite a brutal cold snap, record snowfall and four dead from exposure in Portland, some homeless people are still sleeping out on the streets, in parking garages or in wooded areas.

Police, firefighters, church volunteers and outreach teams from nonprofit organizations have leapt into action, making rounds to check on dozens of campers who can't be persuaded to come inside.

Tuesday night, 422 people used emergency shelter beds set up for this latest cold front in Multnomah County. That's on top of the hundreds of regular shelter beds.

1:17 p.m.: Interstate 84 is open after being closed late Tuesday between Troutdale and Hood River because of the weather.

1:15 p.m.: The snowstorm that socked the metro area might have been unwelcome, and it surely was underestimated, but at least it was well-timed.

Flakes started to fall Tuesday evening after many rush-hour commuters had already started their journey home. By the morning commute, school was canceled and many workplaces had told employees to stay home.

That left roads clear of traffic and traffic flowing Wednesday throughout most of the metro area, though abandoned and disabled vehicles became obstacles for motorists and snowplows along Interstate 5 near Tigard.

State transportation officials imposed tire-chain orders for those drivers who braved state-operated roads, saying even traction tires wouldn't be enough. (The city of Portland was requiring chains on West Burnside Road and Southwest Sam Jackson Park Road.)

"We're doing this to try to make sure people on the roads aren't getting caught up and stopping and sliding and locking up traffic," said Don Hamilton, spokesman for the Oregon Department of Transportation. "We want to make sure the cars on the road are able to handle it."

1:10 p.m.: Inundated by snow, many offices in the Portland area told their employees they needn't come to work Wednesday - but some workers found their way in anyway, slogging through snowdrifts.

12:33 p.m.: If your greatest concern about the snow was that the Portland Trail Blazers' game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Moda Center would get canceled Wednesday night, breathe easy. At this point, tip-off is still planned, so you'll still get to see LeBron.

Like the commute, however, things could get a little sloppy. Both teams played Tuesday night and had travel difficulties getting into Portland. The Cavaliers were delayed in Salt Lake City for two hours and landed at PDX about 2:15 a.m. Wednesday. The Blazers were held in Los Angeles for two hours after playing the Lakers then flew to Seattle, finally arriving just before 3:30 a.m. The Blazers are scheduled to fly to Portland on Wednesday afternoon.

12:17 p.m.: Heavy snowfall in the past 24 hours means Portland Public Schools is unlikely to hold school on Thursday and possibly Friday, which would continue a tough winter of disruptive snow days.

Interim chief operating officer Courtney Wilton told The Oregonian/OregonLive Wednesday morning the district will be looking at roads and sidewalks and meeting later in the afternoon to decide whether or not to close Thursday.

11:40 a.m.: Gov. Kate Brown is preparing to declare a state of emergency in Crook County due to dangerous levels of snow, officials have confirmed.

County commissioners declared a local state of emergency Tuesday after being pummeled with feet of snow for weeks. But now, county resources are drained and they need state help, said county emergency preparedness coordinator Vicky Ryan.

The commissioners on Tuesday asked the governor to declare a state of emergency and send help. If an emergency is declared, it's likely that Oregon Department of Transportation personnel and equipment would be sent to Crook County, not the National Guard, said Office of Emergency Management spokesman Cory Grogan.

Ryan said Juniper Acres, an isolated, off-the-grid community south of Prineville, is county officials' main concern. The community of about 150 has been cut off from emergency resources due to snow-blocked roads, which the county does not maintain, she said.

11:35 a.m.: Car2go sent an email out to users Wednesday saying "in the interest of the safety of our members and employees," services in Portland are suspended until weather conditions improve. For the most up-to-date information on service in the Portland area, follow @car2goPortland on Twitter.

11:30 a.m.: Portland General Electric reports the number of customers without power has dropped to 26,562 in as of 11:10 a.m. from more than 33,000 early Wednesday morning.

The company is not estimating when power will be restored because of the huge caseload.

Clark Public Utilities is reporting 492 customers without power spread throughout the county. More than 11,500 were restored recently.

11:25 a.m.: City officials Wednesday said they don't know when the roads will clear and that drivers should stay off the streets.

The Portland Bureau of Transportation called staff in Tuesday and worked through the night to clear up to a foot of snow that fell in the Portland area Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

"With a record amount of snow like this there is only so much we can do, but we're trying to do the best we can with the resources we have," said bureau spokesman Dylan Rivera.

The city's fleet includes 55 dump trucks converted into snow plows. It also has about six trucks carrying deicing fluid.

Portlanders should stay off the streets and out of the way of snow plows, urged the Portland Bureau of Transportation Wednesday.

The city is working to clear main thoroughfares and bus routes, but neighborhood roads could remain slick for days. Portlanders should use caution on sidewalks, particularly if walking on hilly roads.

11:10 a.m.: The Portland area can expect another another 1 to 3 inches of snow by early Wednesday afternoon, adding to about the foot or so that has blanketed the area, the National Weather Service said in a mid-morning update.

And the accumulation isn't going anywhere fast -- the snow will be slow to melt as temperatures for the rest of the week peak at or near freezing levels.

The system that's brought the snow continues to move slowly to the southeast over Oregon and Washington. In the Portland area, a storm warning remains in effect until 1 p.m. Wednesday, with highs about 30 degrees and east winds up to 15 mph.

Temperatures could drop to 15 degrees overnight, then sunny skies and a high of about 30 degrees are expected Thursday. Partly cloudy skies with similar temperatures are forecast for Friday.

A new front approaches Friday night, and Saturday bringing in some warmer air that could increase surface temperatures. Forecasters expect highs of 35 on Saturday and climbing up to 40 on Sunday.

The heaviest amounts fell in the Portland and Vancouver areas with accumulations from 6 to 12 inches.

11 a.m.: Washington County has closed several buildings in Hillsboro because of a power outage, except for those supporting winter storm responses, including the animal shelter and emergency services.

The county asks people to postpone their business with the county until the buildings can open with full power.

"We appreciate the tremendous effort being made by everyone working to respond to this snow storm and to keep our 24-hour operations going," Assistant County Administrator Don Bohn said in the news release. "We are also grateful to those who faced a challenging commute this morning, only to find the power out at their work places. Our hope is to work with PGE to bring the county back online as soon as possible so that we can open on time Thursday morning."

How will people know when the buildings re-open? The county asks people to monitor its social media feeds, including those on Twitter and Facebook.

10:49 a.m.:

ODOT reports that most Portland-area highways are moving with one exception: Interstate 5 near Tigard.

There, overnight spinouts and jackknifed tractor-trailers have blocked snowplows.

"We're trying to get them out of the way so we can get the plows in there," ODOT spokesman Don Hamilton said.

The agency is towing abandoned cars and is bringing in extra vehicles from other parts of the state to help with the clean-up.

ODOT is still requiring chains on all state roads in the Portland area, and it says traction tires won't suffice.

"We're doing this to try to make sure people on the roads aren't getting caught up and stopping and sliding and locking up traffic," Hamilton said. "We want to make sure the cars on the road are able to handle it."

When the snow stops falling, vehicle-free roads will help the agency mop up the mess in preparation for Thursday morning's commute. Mother Nature isn't expected to help out -- temperatures will stay near or below freezing until the weekend.

"We don't have to have a thaw to get these roads clear," Hamilton said. "With the roads clear, we can get the plows out there. By tomorrow, the roads are going to be functioning better than they are now."

10:30 a.m.: Meals on Wheels is closed today, but the agency prepared for a possible snow day by providing an extra frozen meals to 3,000 homebound seniors Tuesday, said Julie Piper Finley, a spokeswoman for the organization.

She said agency staff this winter have twice before delivered extra meals in an anticipation of winter weather. This week, the kitchen made another round of meals to deliver to homebound clients Tuesday.

She hopes volunteers can resume meal delivery Thursday. If not, the agency has a "cadre of snow drivers" who have been trained and are equipped to deliver to the neediest seniors, she said.

10:05 a.m.: Oregon Health & Science University is socked in with snow, but the hospital and emergency departments are open.

"A team of individuals, technologists, nurses and physicians have made it in," said Dr. Joaquin Cigarroa, clinical chief at the Knight Cardiovascular Institute. "The tram is working.

Cigarroa said all critical operations will be performed. Those that can wait are being rescheduled, he said.

"I've been on the phone since 5 (a.m.)," he said.

9:21 a.m.: A winter storm warning remains in effect until 1 p.m. Wednesday for the Portland area, including Vancouver, Hillsboro, Oregon City, Gresham and Battle Ground, according to an update from the National Weather Service in Portland.

9:12 a.m.: Amtrak canceled its morning Cascade service, which links Seattle and Portland. The rail service is still assessing the afternoon schedule, according to Janet Matkin, a spokeswoman for Washington Department of Transportation.

Typically, a bus shuttle is available when rail service is cancelled but that was not the case today. Matkin advised rail travelers to check the schedule before heading to the station today.

9:11 a.m.: Waste Management has cancelled collection services for the following areas:

Portland, Gresham, Wood Village, Milwaukie, Troutdale, Beaverton, Forest Grove, Gaston, Tigard, Scappoose, Vernonia, Newberg and Dundee.

"Recovery plans are yet to be determined, pending weather conditions," the company said in a news release.

The company keeps an updated list of cancellations and transfer station closures, including information about setting out extra material after a weather delay of service.

9:07 a.m.: From about 4 p.m. Tuesday through 6 a.m. Wednesday morning, the heaviest snow in the Portland area dumped onto the West Hills and North Portland. Some areas saw up to 14.5 inches, according to the National Weather Service in Portland.

For more specific locations, including Portland neighborhoods, check out the National Weather Service's online report.

8:56 a.m.: Portland forestry crews are preparing to remove a tree that's fallen on a Portland Streetcar in the area of Northwest 10th Avenue and Everett. Another tree that's leaning against a church at Southwest Park and Madison is also a top priority for the agency, officials said.

To report downed trees, large limbs across roads or other tree-related emergencies, call 503-823-TREE or email trees@portlandoregon.gov.

Latest closures: Clark County offices, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Northwest Portland, the Oregon Humane Society.

8:29 a.m.: All Vancouver, Wilsonville and Lake Oswego city offices are closed Wednesday.

For the latest on the roads:

7:37 a.m.: These Hillsboro facilities are closed and programs are canceled for today: Hillsboro Brookwood and Shute Park Libraries; Hillsboro Community Senior Center;A  SHARC is open, but morning fitness and swimming lessons classes are canceled; Busy Bees; After school programs (Hillsboro School District closed today)

In Beaverton, Mayor Denny Doyle has canceled his State of the City speech because of the weather.

The Fairview City Hall is closed Wednesday, and all Municipal Court hearings will be rescheduled.

The North Clackamas Recreation District will not deliver Meals on Wheels on Wednesday.

The Seventh Judicial District is closed. The Circuit Courts in Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam and Wheeler counties are closed.

7:17 a.m.: Multnomah County reports the following roads are closed:

* Northwest Cornelius Pass Road is closed from U.S. 30 to Northwest Skyline Boulevard because of downed power lines.
* Northwest Logie Trail Road in the northwest hills is closed from Skyline to 19875 NW Logie Trail Road because of snow and ice.  
* Northwest McNamee Road is closed from U.S. 30 to NW Skyline Blvd.
* Northeast 238th Drive in Wood Village is closed from Arata Road to Glisan Street because of the snow. Northeast 223rd Avenue and 257th Drive are best alternate routes.

6:51 a.m.: Multnomah County facilities are closed today.

6:42 a.m.: The Oregon Food Bank's Portland and Beaverton locations are closed today.

6:32 a.m.: Planning to bus to work? These TriMet bus lines are canceled: 1, 10, 11, 16, 18, 23, 24, 25, 29, 30, 32, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 43, 46, 47, 50, 51, 53, 55, 58, 59, 61, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 81, 84, 85, 87, 92, 94, 96, 97, 99, 152, 154, 156

6:32 a.m.: More snow is on the way. Expect up to 5 additional inches in the Portland area today.

Wednesday's temperatures are expected to top out at 32 degrees with a low of 23. By Thursday and Friday the mercury will climb into the upper 20s. Bottom line: snowy sidewalks and roads will be slick and stay that way through the end of the week.

6:17 a.m.: Oregon Department of Transportation officials said vehicles abandoned on state highways will be towed this morning so plows and trucks that sand roads can get through. He said vehicles were left behind on U.S. 26, but he did not know how many.

"We are trying to keep these main lines open as best we can, the interstates, 217 and 26, to keep them functioning not just for commuters but for emergency vehicles," he said.

Interstate 84 between Troutdale and Hood River remains closed this morning.

6:05 a.m.: Portland General Electric reports more than 33,000 customers in seven counties are without power as of 5:30 a.m.

For a full list of zip codes and time estimates, visit PGE's outage page.

6 a.m.: "It's very dangerous out there," said Oregon Department of Transportation spokesman Don Hamilton. Interstate 5 northbound in the area of Breeze Hill, north of Oregon 217, is particularly treacherous, he said.

Widespread school and office closures are reported across the Portland region.

5:55 a.m.: Chains required for all vehicles traveling in Portland due to heavy snow

5:38 a.m.: TriMet says some of its bus lines are cancelled this morning; others on snow routes. Expect delays if you need to get somewhere.

5:32 a.m.: Flying in or out of PDX today? Check your flight. Many are cancelled.

5:27 a.m.: Portland Bureau of Transportation reports multiple road closures across the city.

5:23 a.m.: Hitting the road? You'll need chains in the Portland area, says the Oregon Department of Transportation.

5:20 a.m.: Portland Metro Wednesday Traffic: Deep snow closes roads, blocks freeways and limits TriMet service; Stay home

5:13 a.m.: PGE reports thousands are without power this morning. Hardest hit are Multnomah and Clackamas counties, where an estimated 25,000 customers are in the dark.

5:05 a.m.: State agency offices are closed in Clackamas, Columbia, Crook, Deschutes, Gilliam, Hood River, Jefferson, Multnomah, Sherman, Wasco, Washington and Wheeler counties today.

5 a.m.: Depending on where you live in the Portland area, you woke up to as much as 10 inches of snow Wednesday, the National Weather Service said.

Snowfall was heaviest in the West Hills, North Portland and western parts of Vancouver, which saw 10 to 12 inches overnight, said Colby Neuman, a meteorologist with the weather service.

The 61/2 inches of snow that fell by midnight at the weather service's office set a record for Jan. 10, Neuman said. The previous record for that day was set in 1998 when 21/2 inches accumulated.

Typically, snowfall in the region is slow to accumulate or happens over a longer period of time, he said.

"That is not something we see too often -- that much snow in six hours or less," he said. "People can't recall too many storms where we saw 1 to 2 inches of snow per hour."

And it's not over yet.

The metro area will see 1 to 4 more inches of snow today, Neuman said.

The blanket of snowfall is likely to stick around through the weekend. Freezing temperatures continue through the rest of the week and into Saturday.

"It will be slow to melt, that's for sure, and will be with us for the next several days," he said.

-- The Oregonian