Cold, icy weather hits the North Coast
Dec. 22—A winter storm warning is in effect for the North Coast until Friday.
Cold and icy weather has closed roads and highways and officials are advising people to avoid driving.
The Astoria Bridge reopened Friday night after closing due to the cold and icy weather.
Oregon Highway 202 reopened Saturday after closing 4 miles south of Olney.
On Thursday night, emergency crews in Cannon Beach responded to a semitruck overturned on U.S. Highway 101 near the U.S. Highway 26 junction.
Fire Chief Marc Reckmann said 27 cars carrying 56 people were stuck in both directions on the highway because of the ice and freezing rain. Some crashed into each other, but no injuries were reported.
Reckmann said the highway was cleared by 3:30 a.m. on Friday, but some cars were still sitting on the side of the road.
More than a dozen cars also crashed on U.S. Highway 26 on Thursday night, according to Hamlet Fire Chief Matt Verley. He said his crew was diverting traffic at the state Highway 53 junction when a large tractor-trailer slid into a fire truck, damaging the engine.
U.S. Highway 30 was also closed Thursday evening at the landslide location between Astoria and Clatskanie due to freezing rain. The highway temporarily closed again on Friday near Astoria after landslides and downed power lines.
The Oregon Department of Transportation said Thursday night that freezing rain was making travel hazardous or impossible, especially at higher elevations, and advised people to stay off the highway for the evening.
On Friday, Clatsop County public works crews were applying ice treatment to the roads and clearing branches and other debris on the roadways.
About 3,000 homes in the county lost power. Most saw power restored by Friday night.
Ice accumulations from the winter storm were expected to reach up to half an inch. Wind gusts were expected to be as a high as 45 mph.
Justin Gibbs, the county's emergency management director, said there are limited resources to cover the area and asked people not to put themselves in harm's way.
"If you must travel in your car, make sure to have a winter emergency kit," Gibbs said in a statement on Wednesday. "Items you should include are candles and matches, a flashlight, pocket knife, snacks, phone charger, a blanket and extra clothing."
All state and county offices in Clatsop County were be closed on Friday due to the weather.
Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria closed most outpatient services Friday due to challenges and safety concerns with weather and power outages.
Emergency and hospital services for patients will continue to remain open, Sarah Bello, a spokeswoman for the hospital, said.
Normal operations are expected to return on Saturday.
