Live updates: Saturday closures, how to prepare for freezing rain, snow in Salem
As Salem and the Mid-Valley prepare for the potential of snow and freezing rain this weekend, here's information on closures, warming shelters, tips on driving in winter weather and how to prepare for possible power outages.
Closures for Saturday, Jan. 13
The following closures have been announced for Saturday, due to weather:
Salem Public Library: The main Salem Public Library downtown and the West Salem branch will be closed on Saturday. Due to recent changes in hours, the library is no longer open on Sunday.
Salem-Keizer School District: All Salem-Keizer Public Schools' activities are canceled and buildings will be closed Saturday and Sunday.
Oregon State University: The university's Corvallis campus will be closed Saturday. The closure includes all on-campus facilities such as Memorial Union, Student Experience Center, Dixon and on-campus Libraries. Employees scheduled to work should contact their supervisor.
State Buildings: State office buildings in the Portland and Salem metro areas will be closed Saturday, except for court and legislative offices.
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.
School delays and closures for Friday
Some schools in the Mid-Willamette Valley have announced delayed openings, closures and canceled events and activities due to the weather.
Canby School District: All students will be released two hours early. There will be no afternoon preschool and no after-school care. All Friday activities are canceled.
Chemeketa Community College: Early release, and all afternoon and evening activities canceled. All Chemeketa campuses and outreach centers will close at 3:30 p.m. All in-person and remote classes, activities, work, and events starting at or after 3:30 p.m. are canceled.
Dallas School District: Evening activities are canceled and all activities and district facilities will be closed after Friday dismissal through Monday.
Dayton School District: Half-day early release schedule with grade school dismissal at 11:50 a.m. and junior and high school dismissal at 12:05 p.m. Lunch will be provided prior to dismissal. All afternoon and evening activities are canceled.
Gervais School District: Schools will close early, following the early release Wednesday schedule: release at 1 p.m. and 1:10 p.m.
Marion/Clackamas Headstart and Early Childhood Centers: The Settlemier, Mulino and Silverton centers and programs will close two hours early. Afternoon transportation routes will run two hours early.
Molalla River School District: All students will be released two hours early. All afternoon activities and athletics canceled. Friday-late-start morning times as usual.
North Marion School District: Half-day schedule with release times for middle and high school at 11:45 a.m. and primary and intermediate at 12:30 p.m. There will be no preschool Friday. All afternoon and evening events and activities are canceled.
Willamette University: All scheduled events taking place on the Salem and PNCA campuses on Saturday have been canceled. Residence halls will be open on Saturday starting at 9 a.m. It is recommended students moving back to campus return on Sunday or Monday.
Woodburn School District: Two-hour early release, including, Preschool Promise. Afternoon classes for specialized preschool are canceled. Itinerant staff assigned to work in a partner district should follow the schedule for that district. All afternoon and evening activities are canceled.
Mid-Valley organization closures, reduced hours for Friday
The following organizations have announced early closings:
Morrison Child and Family Services: All non-residential sites will close at 12:30 p.m., shifting to remote work and telehealth. Residential staff will continue onsite work as scheduled.
ODOT recommends working from home Friday, if possible
The Oregon Department of Transportation suggests working from home Friday, if possible, and get your commute and errands done early in the day since the forecast for northwest Oregon including Portland and the Willamette Valley calls for increasing chances of snow as the evening rush hour begins.
"Chances of snow increase into Friday evening, and temperatures are expected to drop into the 20s into the weekend, so check TripCheck.com and weather forecasts as you make your travel plans through this weekend," ODOT said in a press release.
Corvallis Indoor Winter market season opener delayed
The season opener of the Corvallis Indoor Winter Market is delaying its Saturday season opener at the Benton County Fairgrounds for one week until 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Jan. 20.
"Difficult decisions like these are made with everyone's safety in mind," a statement from the Corvallis-Albany Farmers' Markets, a sister organization, said in a statement. "The forecast could improve, but harvest and baking schedules require a decision two days in advance."
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.
Willamette Valley warming shelters gear up for cold weather
Salem's Warming Network is gearing up for a multi-day stretch of sub-freezing nights and a winter storm watch.
The network activates during cold and inclement weather.
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.
The network struggled in late October when an early-season cold snap — paired with a drastic cut in funding from the state — left them with a fraction of the warming shelter beds needed to keep people sheltered from the elements.
In recent years, the network typically had 150 beds and relied partially on paid staff after the pandemic shrunk the volunteer pool. A lack of state funding meant the network had to start the season with about 30 emergency shelter beds.
The ARCHES Project planned to open its day center for nighttime use and put up a heated tent in its parking lot. City and local leaders warned that people could die on the streets and lobbied for more funding.
As the cold snap loomed this fall, Sen. Deb Patterson, D-Salem, said she looked into the issue and found funds would be available for the warming network.
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 at least Monday. Light meals are provided.
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.
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.
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 brake 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: Oregon winter storm updates: Saturday closures
