WEATHER

Oregon winter storm warning: Eugene lifts emergency parking ban on certain snow routes

Register-Guard

Check here for the latest updates on weather and traffic conditions you might encounter this week. 

Follow storm coverage by R-G reporters here. 

Eugene lifts emergency parking ban

The city of Eugene lifted its snow and ice emergency ban on parking for certain snow routes a little before noon Wednesday, citing an improvement in road conditions from icy to wet. Still, public works director Brian Richardson said city residents should remain cautious. 

"Portions of many streets, especially those in the south hills, remain slippery, and people are cautioned that patches of ice may continue due to overnight forecasted freezing temperatures," Richardson said in a news release. 

Public Works had declared a winter weather emergency Sunday because of the snow accumulation that created hazards throughout the transportation network. During ice and snow emergency conditions, parked vehicles are not allowed on Eugene’s priority snow routes. The ban could be reinstated if there is additional snowfall.

— Louis Krauss

11:53 a.m. Wednesday: Another round of snow before thaw comes to frigid Northwest

SEATTLE — A thaw-out is coming for frozen Seattle and Portland, Oregon, but not before another round of snow that could compound problems for a region more accustomed to winter rain than arctic blasts.

And in Nevada the governor plans to declare a state of emergency due to snow and storm conditions affecting travel in the Lake Tahoe area of northern Nevada.

Forecasters say parts of western Washington could see up to 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) of snow Thursday and northwestern Oregon could see a similar amount. 

The normally temperate part of the Pacific Northwest has shivered with temperatures hitting the single digits in some areas this week after extreme cold air from Canada's Fraser River Valley blew in on Sunday.

Snow and ice has made travel treacherous in some parts, forced closures and travel delays and prompted people to take shelter in emergency warming centers.

Temperatures could rise above freezing in Seattle Thursday and be even warmer in Portland, before airflow from the Pacific blows in on the weekend and causes the mercury to rise to more seasonable highs in the 40s Fahrenheit (4.4 Celsius).

State officials in Oregon have declared an emergency. In Multnomah County — home to Portland — about a half dozen weather shelters were open this week. A similar number of shelters were opened in Seattle's King County, which also declared an emergency.

Seattle leaders said city shelters will remain open through the new year. 

Winter weather and a return to pre-pandemic levels of traffic have resulted in hundreds of accidents on Oregon roads this holiday season. 

Oregon Public Broadcasting reported that between Dec. 23 and Dec. 28 there were 915 traffic accidents in the state. During that same period last year there were 365 accidents and 237 in 2019, according to Oregon State Police. The number of deaths has not been calculated yet. 

David House, a spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Transportation, said the high number of accidents over the last week is a reminder to travelers to use caution and prepare for slick conditions.

"If you can sit tight for a couple more days, just avoid getting out there, that's going to be the safest thing you can possibly do," House said.

In Nevada, a statement released by Gov. Steve Sisolak's office said the emergency declaration will allow state officials to order vehicles traveling in on mountain highways to turn around and return to lower elevations until weather conditions subside and the roadways are safe to use.

"This will help prevent motorists from becoming stranded overnight on the roadways, potentially running out of gas in subfreezing temperatures without access to emergency services," the statement said.

It said U.S. 50 and State Routes 207 and 28 were experiencing long delays and dangerous conditions and that authorities need to be able to clear the roadways to make room for emergency vehicles and snow plows.

— The Associated Press

11 a.m. Wednesday: Snow expected to turn into rain tonight

A warmer weather system will arrive in the Eugene area starting Wednesday night, starting as snow before transitioning into rain that will likely melt some of the accumulated snow, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Rebecca Muessle. 

"We’re expecting that rain to persist throughout the next couple of day and stay above freezing through Saturday," Muessle said. "You may see a few periods of a rain and snow mix overnight, but likely at least from Salem southward it's mostly rain."

The rain is expected to move from the south, so Eugene will see rain before Salem. While the beginning could have some snow accumulation, it will quickly start to melt once the rain starts, she added. 

A "trace" of snow fell throughout most of the Willamette Valley Tuesday night going into Wednesday morning, with larger amounts of up to a half-inch at higher elevations, Muessle said.

Egan Warming Center sites activated Wednesday night

The Egan Warming Center will activate several sites in Eugene and Springfield Wednesday night. Those include:

  • Lane Events Center, at 796 W 13th Ave. in Eugene. The center will be operating out of expo halls one, two and three. The site opens at 7 p.m. It's accessible to people with disabilities and pets are welcome. The after-hour entrance is through the A gate on 13th Avenue between Tyler and Van Buren streets. 
  • Springfield Memorial Building, at 765 A Street in downtown Springfield. The site opens at 6 p.m., pets are welcome and it is accessible to those with disabilities. Use the entrance on Eighth Street. 
  • A youth site will open at First United Methodist Church, 1376 Olive St. in Eugene. Site opens at 6pm., it is also accessible to people with disabilities and pets are welcome.  

— Louis Krauss

11:45 a.m. Tuesday: Snow-melting rain now expected Thursday

The Eugene area should expect rain to follow morning rounds of snow Thursday, said Gerald Mackey, a meteorological technician with the National Weather Service Portland Office.

Another storm is moving toward the Eugene area and snowfall is expected between 2-4 a.m. Thursday. The storm will meet with warm air, raising temperatures and turning the snow to rain sometime around noon, Mackey said. 

Temperatures will drop to around freezing again Thursday night, meaning snow melted by the rain may refreeze. Road conditions may be slick Friday morning, Mackey said.   

— Adam Duvernay

10:45 a.m. Tuesday: EWEB expects full power restoration tonight

The Eugene Water & Electric Board expects all customers will have their power restored by about 10 p.m., according to spokesman Joe Harwood. 

Harwood said about 1,000 customers were without power Monday at the height of outages caused by recent snows. That was down to 84 customers Tuesday morning. 

The remaining outages are scattered throughout EWEB's coverage area. 

Fewer than five customers are without power in Eugene, according to the EWEB outage map. The remaining outages are along the Highway 126 corridor between Thurston and Vida. The highest concentration is 53 customers around Deerhorn Road by Walterville.

— Adam Duvernay

Safety precautions

The freezing and icy temperatures are expected to last a week or more, and the Oregon Office of Emergency Management is asking people to be prepared for what's coming. 

“Winter storms mean increased risk for those traveling as well as those staying home for the holiday. It’s critical all Oregonians are empowered to do their part for themselves, their family and their community to stay safe," OEM Deputy Director Matt Marheine said.

If you need assistance, call these numbers:

  • For non-emergency assistance, dial *677 from a mobile phone or call 800-442-2068.
  • Call or text 211 for health and social service assistance and general information.
  • Dial 511 or visit tripcheck.com for travel updates.
  • Text-to-911 helps those with emergencies who are deaf, hard of hearing or have limited speech capabilities, as well as anyone unable to talk due to an emergency.

Home heating safety tips:

  • Carbon monoxide is a deadly gas produced by generators, grills, camp stoves and other gasoline-, propane-, natural gas- and charcoal-burning devices. Do not use them inside homes or other enclosed spaces and keep the devices away from any doors and vents.
  • Electric shock and fire are also threats when using alternate heating sources. Be aware of heating devices' condition and location of use, as well as safe operational procedures.

Communicating during outages:

  • To report a power outage, residents can call EWEB at 844-484-2300, and call 541-682-4800 to report downed trees or road issues.
  • Snow, ice and wind can damage cell towers, disrupting cellphones and internet access.
  • Use a battery-operated radio to listen to public broadcast stations for situation updates.
  • Outages may be widespread and power may not be back up for some time.
  • Check in on family and neighbors to ask who needs assistance and get them the help they need.

Limit exposure and know where to find warming centers:

  • Many Oregon counties are setting up warming shelters. Eagan Warming Centers in Lane County are currently inactive. Get updates at eganwarmingcenter.com.
  • When it is necessary to be outdoors, limit exposure time and wear warm layers. 

Previous coverage:Egan Warming Centers' season begins as temps drop, calling for more host sites and help

  • Know the signs to prevent frostbite and hypothermia. They include shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness in adults and bright red, cold skin and very low energy in babies.

Protect pets: 

  • Keep pets inside when the temperature drops. If they are outdoors for any reason, make sure they’re protected by a dry, draft-free shelter and routinely check the water dish to assure the water is unfrozen.
  • Remove common poisons like antifreeze and de-icing salt.
  • Towel dry pet as soon as they come inside, paying special attention to their feet and in-between the toes. Remove any snow from between their foot pads. 
  • Never shave dogs down to the skin in winter, as longer coats will provide more warmth. Consider getting short-haired dogs a coat or sweater. 
  • Booties can provide coverage and warmth and can also prevent ice and salt from getting lodged between bare toes and causing irritation.  
  • Pets burn extra energy by trying to stay warm in wintertime. Pets who spend a lot of time outdoors may need to be fed more during the cold weather months.  
  • Make sure companion animals have a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow will work. 
  • If a pet is shivering and refuses to play, it is too cold and should come inside. 
  • Car motors are of particular danger to cats who sleep outside. Cats seek the warmth of car motors, and they can be killed when caught in the fan belt of a car's engine. Knock on the hood of the car or honk your horn before starting the car.

During an outage:

First check to see if others around your residence appear to have lost power as well.

If you suspect your home or business is the only outage, check your circuit panel for tripped breakers. If the breakers are intact, report your outage to EWEB by calling our toll-free outage reporting line at 1-844-484-2300, or text “out” to TXEWEB (893932).

— Adam Duvernay

Travel advice

Preparing for winter weather ahead of time makes travel safer and easier. 

AAA Oregon/Idaho is urging drivers to be prepared for winter driving conditions.

Here are the top four tips from AAA for cold weather prep:

  • Check your vehicle’s battery: Dead batteries are the No.1 reason why people call AAA during a cold snap.
  • Have proper traction: Equip your car with the right snow tires or carry chains or tire socks — and know how to put them on.
  • Know how to go on ice and snow: A common mistake people make when driving on slick roads is going too fast for the road conditions.
  • Don’t leave home without an emergency kit in your car: Even a normally short trip can take hours in wintry weather so have provisions in case of a long delay.

— Adam Duvernay

How the City of Eugene is preparing

Eugene Public Works is asking people to review the designated snow emergency routes before the winter weather so they can avoid parking vehicles on those routes.

When the city declares an ice/snow emergency, people must remove all vehicles immediately from designated snow emergency routes. The city’s ice/snow ordinance prohibits parking along streets designated snow emergency routes during emergencies.

When temperatures are near or below freezing, staff will pretreat elevated surfaces and known trouble spots with deicer.

In the event there is a significant amount of snow and ice, public works will execute its ice/snow plan. The plan is designed to keep transportation systems as operational and as safe as possible during ice/snowstorms.

— Adam Duvernay

How to travel safely during winter

The best place to find up-to-date information on weather is the Portland National Weather Services' Facebook and Twitter page, along with the page that shows detailed forecasts at weather.gov/pqr/. 

Check road conditions in advance and get real-time road reports at Oregon Department of Transportation's tripcheck.com. 

Recommended equipment for vehicles include snow tires or chains and emergency supplies including: 

  • Extra gas
  • Blankets
  • Shovel
  • Water (one gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation)
  • Food (at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food)
  • Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
  • Flashlight
  • First aid kit
  • Extra batteries
  • Whistle (to signal for help)
  • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)
  • Wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities)
  • Manual can opener (for food)
  • Local maps
  • Cellphone with chargers and a backup battery

— Salem Statesman Journal

Editor's note:This article was updated with the correct spelling of Rebecca Muessle.

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