Oregon winter storm live updates: Freezing rain into Sunday, ODOT asks people to stay home
Click here for live updates for Sunday, Jan. 14
Snow, sleet and freezing rain have brought a number of car accidents and power outages across northwest Oregon Saturday.
Light snow started blanketing Salem and the Mid-Willamette Valley late Friday as temperatures dropped. Sleet and ice followed into the early afternoon. Freezing rain is expected to stay in place into Sunday morning, according to the National Weather Service in Portland.
Slick roads have brought numerous accidents up and down Interstate 5 and on additional roads. Downed trees and power lines closed roads throughout the northwest region of the state. Public safety agencies warned drivers to stay home if possible as temperatures dipped below zero on Cascade passes.
Here's the latest on closures, power outages, warming shelters, tips on driving in winter weather and how to prepare for possible power outages.
9:10 p.m.: Oregon Health Authority warns of cold weather health risks
The Oregon Health Authority provided the following tips to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, hyperthermia and frostbite.
Hypothermia and frostbite can settle in more quickly than usual when there is a windchill factor.
For carbon monoxide prevention:
Never use a gas stove or oven to heat your home.
Only use outdoor heaters, camp stoves, cooktops, grills, generators and similar items outdoors.
Generators should be used at least 25 feet away from your home.
Heat your home safely when utilizing space heaters, make sure the cord is not damaged and plug them directly into an outlet.
Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from all heat sources including fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators, portable heaters and candles.
8:45 p.m.: Oregon's Emergency Coordination Center activated
The Oregon Department of Emergency Management activated the State Emergency Coordination Center for state agencies and nonprofit partners to share life safety resources, including activating 211 to support warming shelters in several counties.
"If you or someone you know needs a place to stay warm, call 211 or visit 211info.org to find open warming centers in your area; 211 also offer and coordinate transport services to and from warming centers," the agency said.
Emergency Management encouraged people to stay home, stay informed, have an emergency plan and stock an emergency kit.
Oregonians can sign up for local emergency alerts at oralert.gov If you have moved, you should update your information.
The agency said a basic emergency supply kit in case the power goes out includes the following items:
Enough water for one gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation.
Several days’ supply of non-perishable, easy-to-eat food such as peanut butter, protein and granola bars, jerky, nuts, fruit, pretzels, crackers, beans and rice.
A manual can opener.
A battery-powered or hand crank radio or a weather radio.
A flashlight with extra batteries.
A first-aid kit.
Sleeping bags or warm blankets.
6:35 p.m.: ODOT urges Oregonians in the northwest to stay home
The Oregon Department of Transportation said the severe weather was forcing additional road closures due to downed trees and power lines in the northwest region of the state, including the Willamette Valley, along the Coast and in Portland.
"Most of these closures are expected to last until tomorrow," ODOT said Saturday night. "These closures are rapidly changing and could last several hours."
The agency asked resident to stay home and reschedule their travel, if possible, and check TripCheck before heading out.
6 p.m.: NW Natural asks customers to conserve gas
NW Natural has asked customers to conserve gas during the storm "by lowering thermostats as much as you can comfortably and safely manage," minimizing hot water usage and turning off non-essential appliances, due to increased usage which can strain utility systems.
"We are seeing increased usage by utility customers across our region due to frigid temperatures, which are expected to continue into next week," NW Natural said in the notice to customers.
Modest efforts to conserve gas "can make a big impact in helping the entire energy system navigate this extreme weather event,” said Kim Rush, NW Natural's chief operations officer.
Rush said the company's gas system is safely operating at full capacity and field teams ready to respond to customer needs.
12:56 p.m.: Temperatures drop below zero on Santiam Pass
Temperatures dropped below zero on Santiam Pass on Highway 20 by midday on Saturday. The temperature reading may be impacted by high winds but the temperature listed on the TripCheck webcam read -5 degrees.
12:32: Numerous car accidents on I-5, other roads
There are a number traffic accidents due to slick roads on I-5, according to TripCheck.com. Many of the accidents are between Albany and Eugene.
12:22 p.m.: 113,000 without power, including Mill City, Lincoln City area
There are around 113,000 people without power in the Willamette Valley Saturday morning, with the number likely to increase as the amount of ice builds up due to the freezing rain.
The vast majority of outages are in the Portland area where very strong east winds are hitting the city through its funnel in the Columbia River Gorge. However, there are outages in Mill City, the Oregon Coast Range near Lincoln City and in the Sweet Home area, according to Pacific Power.
There are not widespread power outages currently recorded in Salem.
The tally and location of power outages is also available from Portland General Electric, and Salem Electric.
9:30 a.m.: Freezing rain to linger into Sunday, bring more ice than expected to wider area
The National Weather Service said the amount of ice expected in the Willamette Valley and the mountains has increased and is expected to last longer than previously forecast, bringing impacts to travel and utilities.
Updated totals shows between a quarter and half-inch of ice for a much larger area than expected, spanning from Newport on the coast to Sweet Home in the Cascade Foothills all the way down to Eugene and north to Tillamook.
"The track of the storm slowed slightly, which means it's going to linger further into the evening and bring more precipitation that is falling either as sleet or as freezing rain," NWS meteorologist Tom Schuldt said. "That much ice will bring significant impacts to travel and everyday life.
"We're really asking people to stay off the road. It's very dangerous."
Schuldt said the freezing rain is expected to continue overnight and until 4 to 10 a.m. on Sunday before letting up. And even then, temperatures remain below freezing through Monday. It won't be until Tuesday that things start to melt out, he said.
Salem-area closures for Saturday, Jan. 13
Salem Public Library: The main Salem Public Library downtown and the West Salem branch will be closed Saturday. Due to recent budget cuts, the library is no longer open on Sunday.
Oregon Humane Society: The Oregon Humane Society’s Portland and Salem campuses will be closed Saturday and all classes and appointments will be rescheduled. During severe weather, the best place for pets is indoors, said spokesperson Laura Klink.
Cherriots: Just after 7 a.m. on Saturday, Salem-Keizer's transit system announced that due to the current and forecasted weather conditions, Cherriots' buses would not start service until further notice.
Salem-Keizer School District: All Salem-Keizer Public Schools' activities are canceled and buildings will be closed Saturday and Sunday.
Chemeketa Community College: All Chemeketa campuses and outreach centers will be closed Saturday and Sunday. All in-person and remote classes, activities, work and events are canceled. Tenant operations continue at their discretion.
Oregon State University: The university's Corvallis campus is closed Saturday. The closure includes all on-campus facilities such as Memorial Union, Student Experience Center, Dixon and on-campus Libraries.
Willamette University: All events scheduled Saturday in Salem and at the Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland have been canceled. Residence halls will be open from 9 a.m. Saturday, but it is recommended students moving back to campus return on Sunday or Monday.
Local 290 Training Center: Classes canceled. Weld Shop closed Saturday through Monday.
Many businesses and attractions announced their closures Friday and early Saturday morning, including Word of Mouth, Gilbert House Children's Museum and Manna bakery.
Willamette Valley warming shelters gear up for cold weather
Salem's Warming Network opened for a multi-day stretch of sub-freezing nights and a winter storm watch.
In the past eight years, the warming network also has transitioned from only opening when temperatures of 27 degrees or lower were reached three nights in a row to activating every time temperatures dipped to 32 or below. This meant going from opening only a handful of times a season to 30 to 35 times a season. This required more resources and volunteers.
Previously at risk of needing to reduce available beds, the network got $800,000 from the state in November.
The money allowed places like Salem First Presbyterian Church at Chemeketa and Winter streets downtown to open for the season.
The church reported serving 1,642 guests a season in a 2022-2023 report. Church staff said they have the capacity for 85 people and are usually full.
Transportation will be available to and from the warming shelters through shuttles and Cherriots.
Ashley Hamilton, chief program officer with the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, said the long stretch of freezing temperatures and the chance of freezing rain and snow have the agency concerned for people living outside.
"We have our unsheltered neighbors who are going to be experiencing some of the worst weather that has come at us this winter season," she said.
The warming network shelters are activating Friday night and will remain open until at least Monday.
Seed of Faith Ministries warming shelter at 1248 Winter St. NE will also open with 140 spaces. Ministry leadership said the warming center will be operating 24 hours a day until Monday. Light meals are provided.
Executive Director Dr. Bryant Barnwell said the organization has been serving the people living unsheltered for more than half a decade but recently expanded its services to address the growing need in the community.
"There are a lot of people who are facing more homelessness than normal," he said. "A lot of us are one paycheck from being in the homeless situation."
The group also works to connect people to services and benefits.
When the overnight shelters close in the morning, the ARCHES Project Day Center at 615 Commercial St. NE will open for people to drop in to warm up and access food, services and bathrooms until the evening when the warming sites reopen.
"There will always be a warm place for people to be," Hamilton said.
People can call 971-304-9211 to hear an up-to-date, prerecorded message on warming shelter locations and details.
Further details on the locations and whether they are activated can be found online at mwvcaa.org/programs/emergency-services/shelter-locations/.
The network is still in need of volunteers, with multiple shifts and options available.
Hamilton said volunteers are vital to the warming network.
Longtime volunteer Lorrie Walker has been signing up for warming shelter shifts for the past eight years. She signed up for at least two shifts this weekend. She collects gloves, hats and scarves to hand out during her shift. Cooling centers and warming centers are vital to the community, she said.
"It saves lives," Walker said. "It's the least I could do."
The retired Oregon State Hospital employee said she often uses her background in mental health to connect with people.
Many people staying at the warming centers are the working poor — people working jobs, sleeping in their cars and needing a warm place during frigid weather. Others have pets or partners they can't stay with in traditional shelters.
"They are us," Walker said. "It could be us... They are all somebody's child."
She encouraged others to volunteer, adding that many who do end up coming back for years.
"People are so thankful," she said. "The hardest part is seeing people have to go out the doors in the morning."
Visit the ARCHES social media page at facebook.com/SalemARCHES/ or mwvcaa.galaxydigital.com/calendar/ to find information about volunteering or finding shelter through the Salem Warming Network.
City of Salem prepares for winter weather
City officials said Salem's Public Works staff is keeping an eye on the weather and actively preparing for the possibility of snow and freezing rain.
“Impacts could include power outages, tree limbs breaking and icy road conditions,” officials said. “During a winter storm watch, we warn crews and place staff on standby if needed. We prepare equipment and supplies and get our snow response fleet ready for use. We also begin to apply deicer if conditions warrant the use.”
City deicers, snow plows and sanding equipment will be ready for use when needed.
Snow routes in the city are determined based on an established winter response plan.
Deicer routes are streets, hills and bridges identified as historically freeze-prone areas where pre-treatment is applied before the storm.
Snow routes are the primary arterial roadways, major streets and important emergency vehicle routes throughout Salem.
Secondary routes like city arterials and major roadways, collector streets and important connections throughout the city.
Officials urged residents to take steps now to ensure their vehicles are ready for winter weather conditions, use extra caution while driving and make sure enough supplies are at home.
Those with roadway concerns can call Public Works Dispatch at 503-588-6311.
More information is available at www.cityofsalem.net/snow.
Oregon drivers should prepare for dangerous road conditions
Freezing rain could cause slippery and dangerous driving conditions. Travelers should allow plenty of time to reach their destinations and be flexible with their plans.
Mountain passes could get especially snowy or could close. Check the Oregon Department of Transportation's TripCheck.com or call 511 for current road conditions before you hit the road.
Those driving in winter conditions should avoid pumping their brakes on snow and ice since anti-lock brakes sense when a tire is slipping and compensate quicker than a driver can.
Drastic movements like pumping the brakes too hard also will cause tires to lose traction. Instead, drivers should keep a safe distance between other cars and gradually correct if they feel their car starting to slide. Allow extra time and distance to slow down and come to a stop.
It's also smart to carry chains and know how to use them. Underinflating your tires slightly also will help with traction in icy conditions.
Consider bringing an emergency kit in your vehicle with you, just in case. Include a flashlight, snow and ice scraper, first-aid kit, blanket, food, water jumper cables and a spare tire.
The city of Salem and National Weather Service recommend the following for safe driving in winter road conditions:
Reduce your speed and leave extra distance between vehicles
Use extra caution on sharp curves and expect longer stopping distances
Give snowplows plenty of room and only pass if necessary
Make sure your vehicle is clear of snow and ice before driving
Carry a shovel and sand or kitty litter for emergency traction assistance
Preparing for power outages due to Oregon winter storm
Wind and ice accumulation could cause power outages.
Households should prepare emergency outage kits with a flashlight, battery-operated radio, extra batteries, non-perishable foods, bottled water and blankets.
For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com call 503-910-6616 or follow on Twitter at @wmwoodworth
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Winter storm updates: Freezing rain to last into Sunday in Mid-Valley
