Oregon winter storm live updates: Salem-Keizer cancels school Tuesday amid new ice warning

Whitney Woodworth and Zach Urness, Salem Statesman Journal
Updated ·12 min read
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A winter storm that has wreaked havoc across northwest Oregon will continue to impact the region with extremely cold air over the rest of the holiday weekend.

Tens of thousands of Oregonians in the northwestern part of the state remain without power and mountain roads are closed across the state. Some schools are planning to cancel school Tuesday amid a new warning for freezing rain.

Here's the latest information on weather, road closures, power outages and more.

Another round of freezing rain forecast for Tuesday in Salem, Eugene, possibly Portland

As cities in the Willamette Valley attempt to dig themselves out from last Saturday’s mix of snow and ice amid frigid temperatures, more ice is on the way, officials said.

Another round of freezing rain could complicate travel and cause power outages from Salem to Eugene, and possibly in Portland as well, a winter storm watch said.

A total of 0.2 to 0.3 inches of ice is forecast for Tuesday in the central and southern Willamette Valley. The ice is expected begin in the morning and last into the evening.

It’s less than Saturday’s ice totals that reached a half-inch in some places, but enough to have widespread impact.

“We’ll definitely have some possibility of power outages, tree damage and slippery roads,” said Jacob Hall with the National Weather Service in Portland. “The good news is that we’re not forecasting strong winds.”

A winter storm watch from NWS indicated that the freezing rain could have a concentrated impact on the evening commute.

What about Portland?

While Salem to Eugene is forecast for freezing rain, what falls in Portland is a little less clear. Hall said it was likely to be a mix of snow and freezing rain.

In the Cascade Foothills, most of the precipitation will fall as freezing rain as well, with snow levels likely reaching around 2,000 feet, Hall said.

What about the foothills?

In the higher elevations of the Coast Range and Cascades, snow and ice is forecast. A winter weather watch says up to an inch of snow and 0.3 of an inch of freezing rain will be possible.

When will the freeze break?

The system of freezing air is finally expected to exit by late Tuesday night and into Wednesday. High temperatures return to the upper 40s or low 50s, and with rain forecast, it should melt much of the snow and ice fairly quickly.

Snow in the mountains?

Above about 2,000 to 2,500 feet, around 4 to 8 inches of snow is possible in the Coast Range and Cascades. That should turn to a mix of rain and snow by Wednesday and for the rest of the week.

Salem-Keizer Public Schools announces school closure Tuesday, Jan. 16

The Salem-Keizer School District notified parents and employees Sunday afternoon that all schools will be closed Tuesday, due to the weather.

The closure includes the EDGE program, district offices, all indoor and outdoor school and district events, travel and use of school facilities.

Closures in and around Salem for Monday and Tuesday

Multiple crashes on icy Interstate 5

The Oregon Department of Transportation says drivers on northbound Interstate 5 south of Cottage Grove should expect delays and use extra caution.

Multiple crashes and disabled vehicles are along a stretch of the freeway from mileposts 167 to 172, ODOT said.

Salem gripped by ice as winter storm moves away from city

The winter storm is expected to move out of the Salem area early Sunday, with dry but cold air forecast through early Tuesday, the National Weather said.

Temperatures will top out at 27 degrees on Sunday and 29 on Monday, which means that untreated roads will likely stay frozen.

Widespread rain is expected to return Tuesday. And with cold air still in place across the northern parts of the Willamette Valley, forecasters said the chances of freezing rain and sleet increase Tuesday night into early Wednesday.

Numerous accidents and road closures were reported Saturday, many caused by drivers traveling too fast, passing and following snowplows too closely and trucks not using chains when needed, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation.

City officials said on Saturday that Salem's Public Works crews were applying sand to major arterials and critical emergency routes. Neighborhood streets were not being treated at the time.

"Temperatures will not increase, so the precipitation we get will remain on the roadways and sidewalks for the next few days," officials said.

City spokesman Trevor Smith said public works crews continued to focus on primary and secondary routes with eight plows and sanders working 24 hours a day.

In many areas, the ice that fell mixed with snow to create a cold — but walkable — layer on sidewalks and paths.

Mountain roads closed Sunday morning

In a statement, Oregon Department of Transportation officials said they have extended closures throughout much of the lower Willamette Valley and Central Coast.

They said U.S 20 at Newport was back open but warned the roads are extremely icy.

Multiple roads are closed Sunday morning due to crashes and difficult conditions such as ice and fallen trees, according to TripCheck.com. Currently, U.S. Highway 20 from Sweet Home to Santiam Junction is closed, along with U.S. Highway 126 from Veneta to Mapleton.

Closures due to downed trees and powerlines included Highway 36 from east of Swisshome to Triangle Lake and Highway 229 from Lincoln City to Toledo.

"These closures are extremely challenging and rapidly changing," ODOT officials said. "Closures could last several hours to several days."

They advised drivers to stay home and reschedule if possible. They warned of more severe weather hitting some areas in the coming week.

"Severe weather is likely to hit again Tuesday and temperatures are not forecasted to get above freezing forcing highway closures throughout northwest Oregon, including the Coast, Portland, and the Willamette Valley, as well as higher elevations," ODOT officials said.

Freezing temps drive hundreds to warming shelters

Salem First Presbyterian Church at Chemeketa and Winter streets downtown opened at night with about 100 spaces with transportation available to ARCHES Project Day Center for when the shelter closes in the morning.

Seed of Faith Ministries warming shelter at 1248 Winter St. NE opened with 140 spaces. Ministry leadership said the warming center will be operating 24 hours a day until Monday. Light meals are provided.

Robert Marshall, program manager with the ARCHES Project, said the warming shelter had 83 guests Friday night and 112 guests on Saturday night.

"Our Day Center, which has extended hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. during this winter storm, has served 190 people since Saturday morning," Marshall said. "In addition to our shelter operations, we’ve had outreach teams in the community Friday evening and Saturday afternoon checking on people, informing them of local warming shelters, and delivering supplies such as hand warmers, socks, gloves, hats, emergency blankets, and sleeping bags."

Marshall noted that the extended period of freezing weather has lead to increased need in the community.

"The individuals we serve often have complex medical conditions and are not prepared to live let alone survive in these harsh conditions," he said. "Equally important to warming shelter operations is ensuring outreach teams are engaging with people who aren’t close to a warming shelter, assessing their needs and current conditions, informing them of available resources, and equipping them with the supplies they need."

He said cold weather supplies are in high demand.

"If community members are looking to invest in our critical lifesaving work, they can donate new winter socks, winter gloves, hand warmers and sleeping bags that will be handed out to those in need at our shelters and through our outreach operations," Marshall said.

Donations can be dropped off anytime at the Navigation Center located at 1185 22nd Street SE in Salem.

140,000 customers still without power

At least 140,000 homes are still without power Sunday morning across northwest Oregon. While the greatest number continues to be in Portland, there are significant outages outside Lincoln City, in the Sweet Home and Lebanon area and in the Eugene area.

To see updated maps of the outages see maps from PGE, Pacific Power, EWEB and Salem Electric, which hasn't posted any outages.

Many Western Oregon ski areas closed Sunday

Many Western Oregon ski areas are closed on Sunday due to a combination of freezing rain, arctic conditions and closed roads.

Hoodoo Ski Area on Santiam Pass and Willamette Pass Resort on Cascade summit southeast of Eugene are closed. On Mount Hood, Timberline Lodge and Mount Hood Skibowl are closed. In southwest Oregon, Mount Ashland is closed.

It appears that Mount Hood Meadows and Mount Bachelor ski areas are open.

Closures for Salem and the Mid-Valley for Sunday, Jan. 14

  • Cherriots: The Salem-Keizer area's transit service announced it would suspend bus service on Sunday due to road conditions. Service was expected to return on Monday at a reduced holiday level.

  • Oregon State University: Oregon State University's Corvallis campus will be closed Sunday, due to street surface conditions impacted by ice and sub-freezing temperatures. The closure includes all on on-campus facilities including Memorial Union, Student Experience Center, Dixon and on-campus libraries. University Housing & Dining Services dining services will continue to operate during the closure, though there may be adjustments to hours/locations to accommodate staffing.

  • Chemeketa Community College: All Chemeketa campuses and outreach centers will be closed Sunday. All in-person and remote classes, activities, work and events are canceled. Tenant operations continue at their discretion.

Safety tips for getting around on icy conditions

People of all ages are equally prone to fall in ice and snow, says Dr. Elizabeth Phelan, professor of gerontology and geriatric medicine and medical director of the Fall Prevention Clinic at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

That is the case even when you have good balance, said Phelan, so consider whether it’s necessary to venture out in icy conditions.

If you must walk outdoors when it’s icy, here are tips for getting around:

  • Wear slip-resistant footwear that can reduce fall injuries by approximately 60%.

  • Keep your hands free and out of your pockets in case you need to balance or brace yourself.

  • Limit the number of items you’re carrying to ensure better balance.

  • Avoid looking at your phone while walking.

State Emergency Coordination Center activated

The Oregon Department of Emergency Management activated the State Emergency Coordination Center on Saturday 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 to find open warming centers in your area; 211 also offers and coordinates transport services to and from warming centers.

Three warming shelters have been activated in Marion County and in Polk County.

Emergency Management encouraged people to stay home, be 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.

NW Natural asks customers to conserve gas

NW Natural on Saturday evening 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, to help prevent strain on 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 operating safely at full capacity and field teams ready to respond to customer needs.

What to do if your home or car is damaged due to the storm

The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation recommends calling your insurance company or agent before filing a claim if your home or car is damaged in the winter storm

Ask about your policy coverage, exclusions and deductibles to determine whether the benefits of filing a claim for the damage outweigh the costs to see if the amount of your damage could be less than or close to your deductible.

If you have insurance questions or concerns, contact the division's consumer advocates at 888-877-4894 or email dfr.insurancehelp@dcbs.oregon.gov

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 the 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, ensure the cord is not damaged and plug them directly into an outlet.

  • Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from all heat sources including fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators, portable heaters and candles.

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: Salem-Keizer cancels school amid new ice warning