Oregon winter storm live updates: Warning of major ice storm Tuesday, closures announced

As the Willamette Valley attempts to dig out from the weekend mix of snow and ice amid frigid temperatures, an ice storm warning was issued for 10 a.m. to 4 a.m. Wednesday that could further complicate travel and cause more power outages.

Travel is strongly discouraged Tuesday.

"If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency," the National Weather Service said.

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

Major '2021 level' ice storm projected Tuesday from Salem to Portland

A major ice storm capable of bringing widespread power outages and crippling travel appears increasingly likely for the Willamette Valley on Tuesday.

The National Weather Service is forecasting anywhere from a quarter to three-quarters of an inch of ice for a widespread area from roughly Corvallis and Salem up to the Portland Metro Area.

The impact is expected to be worse than earlier this week and could be on par with the 2021 ice storm that knocked out power for hundreds of thousands, in some cases for over a week, said Shawn Weagle, lead forecaster for the National Weather Service in Portland.

“If the forecast holds, it has the potential to be as bad as 2021 because that amount of ice can bring down a lot of trees very easily,” Weagle said.

“The cold air is just really stout right now,” he added. “It’s been here for a while and it’s going to take a lot to push it out. At the same time, we have a pretty wet incoming system. Our big hope is that some of it starts out as snow or slush, so that at least roads aren’t quite as bad to begin with.”

The ice storm warning lasts from 10 a.m. Tuesday to 4 a.m. on Wednesday.

The areas of greatest concern are in the north Willamette Valley, from roughly Salem or Corvallis north to Portland and into the Columbia River Gorge. Weagle said Washington, Yamhill and the Gorge were most likely to get hit hardest.

Somewhat less impact is expected in the southern Willamette Valley, including Eugene, where a far smaller .001 to .01 inches of ice is forecasted. Warm southerly air is forecast to reach the southern Willamette Valley first and gradually work its way up north, Weagle said.

Once it arrives, the warm southerly air should bring widespread rain that melts much of the ice into Wednesday. In Salem, precipitation is expected to transition from ice to rain at around midnight on Tuesday.

Portland will take the longest to warm up because its farthest north and because it will continue to get cold air from the Gorge.

Widespread power outages and road closures

Wind and snow and ice downed trees and power lines across northwestern Oregon over the weekend, knocking out power and prompting the closure of numerous roads.

Portland General Electric said 75,000 customers were without power as of 9:30 a.m. Sunday, mostly in the Portland metro area. The number of customers without electricity peaked Saturday at 160,000.

Some 100 trees toppled over the weekend in Lake Oswego, including one that fell on a house and killed a man, according to the Associated Press. Two other people died of suspected hypothermia and a fourth died in a fire that spread from an open-flame stove after a tree fell onto an RV.

PGE said more than 1,400 employees and a number of crews and support staff from across Oregon and California, Idaho and Washington crews were reported working Sunday to fix downed lines and damaged poles, substations and transmission equipment.

Damage included 850 downed distribution power lines, lines wrapped around fallen limbs, transformer and substation damage, and trees that downed equipment, the utility said.

“We were proactive in preparations for this storm and secured additional resources, but the extent of the damage due to fallen trees, limbs, debris and ice throughout our service area made it difficult to access the hardest-hit areas and make repairs both big and small,” Benjamin Felton, chief operating officer at PGE, said in a prepared statement.

PGE said customers could experience multiple outages, due to the extreme weather, and should report any new outages.

The Oregon Department of Transportation said downed trees and power lines have made driving dangerous on a multitude of roads and highway.

Some road closures could last several days as crews work to clean up the downed trees and debris, ODOT said

ODOT continued to advise drivers to stay home and reschedule any travel, if possible, warning of the freezing rain, sleet and snow forecast for some areas this 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.

Salem announces in-person closures, essential operations remain available

City officials are closing all in-person services at the Civic Center Plaza, Salem Public Library, Center 50+, and Salem Municipal Airport on Tuesday due to the forecast and an abundance of caution.

Despite the closures, the bulk of city operations will continue uninterrupted, including essential and online services.

Most city services are available online through the Salem's website cityofsalem.net/i-want-to.

In addition, the city will be offering online and remote access for the following services:

• Customer Service Center is available by emailing info@cityofsalem.net

• Salem Public Library is available for customer calls from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 503-588-6315

• Center 50+ is available by email at connect50plus@cityofsalem.net. For volunteers of Marion Polk Food Share’s Meals on Wheels, meals will not be delivered on Tuesday.

• Permit Application Center is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 503-588-6256 or baspac@cityofsalem.net. Inspection services will be rescheduled on Wednesday.

Those with cases before Salem Municipal Court on Tuesday are asked to please contact the Court after Jan. 17 to make arrangements for a new date by calling 503-588-6146 (select 5 for staff) or salemmunicourt@cityofsalem.net

All essential services, including police, fire, public works and medical services will continue to operate throughout the weekend.

• For life-threatening emergencies, call 9-1-1.

• For all other emergencies, contact 503-588-6123

• To report roadway, water, or sewer concerns, call the Public Works Dispatch Center at 503-588-6311

Closures in and around Salem for Monday and Tuesday

Salem-Keizer School District, the second largest school district in the state, said all schools and facilities would be closed Tuesday, following the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday weekend. Here are other announced closures for Monday and Tuesday.

• Family Building Blocks: All sites are closed Monday and Tuesday, and all Zoom meetings are canceled.

• Oregon State University: The Corvallis campus will be closed Monday and Tuesday due to street conditions impacted by ice and sub-freezing temperatures. MLK Jr. Day events have been canceled or postponed.

• Salem Academy:Closed and no childcare on Tuesday.

• Salem Child Development Center: All campuses closed Monday

• Willamette Valley Cancer Institute and Research Center: All clinics closed Monday.

• Amity School District: Closed Tuesday.

• Central Linn School District: All campuses closed Tuesday.

• Corvallis School District: School and closed Tuesday. All district extra-curricular activities and outside use of district facilities have been canceled through Tuesday.

• Dallas School District: Closed Tuesday

• Dayton School District: Closed Tuesday. All afternoon and evening activities are canceled. "Despite implementing our districtwide cold weather protocols for all of our school buildings, we unfortunately experienced several burst pipes and equipment failures over the weekend at the grade school," the district website states. "Given that worse weather is expected tomorrow, and it is not supposed to warm up between now and then, we will be canceling school (at all levels) as well as all extracurricular activities on Tuesday, January 16th in an effort to ensure the safety of our students and staff."

• Gervais School District: Closed Tuesday and two-hour delay Wednesday. There will be no early release Wednesday. All sports and activities also are canceled.

• Molalla River School District: Closed Tuesday

• Linn-Benton Community College: All campuses closed Tuesday. Remote classes will continue as scheduled. In-person classes may be moved to remote based on instructor's discretion.

• Community Action Head Start - Marion/Polk: No preschool. All sites in Salem/Keizer, Woodburn, Dallas, Independence, and Santiam areas are canceled.

• North Marion School District: Closed Tuesday and a two-hour delay for Wednesday, but no pre-school classes. Middle and high school classes will start at 10 a.m. Wednesday, primary and intermediate classes will start at 10:40 a.m. Before school childcare services may be delayed Wednesday.

• North Santiam School District: Closed Tuesday.

• Queen of Peace school: Closed Tuesday.

• Salem-Keizer Public Schools: All schools closed Tuesday, including the EDGE program, district offices, indoor and outdoor school and district events, travel and use of school facilities.

• State Office Buildings: State offices in the Portland-metro and Salem-metro closed Tuesday. Regular work hours for hybrid and remote workers. The notice does not include courts or legislative offices.

• Silver Falls School District: Closed Tuesday. No after-school sports or activities. School board meeting postponed to Thursday.

• Institute of Technology in Salem: Closed on Tuesday.

• Willamette Valley Christian School in Brooks: Closed Tuesday. No preschool.

• Sheridan School District: Closed Tuesday.

• Chemeketa Community College:All Chemeketa Campuses and Outreach Centers will be closed Tuesday. All in-person and remote classes, activities, work and events are canceled. Tenant operations continue at their discretion.

• Willamette Education Service District: All sites are closed on Tuesday, including those in Salem, McMinnville, Woodburn, Dallas, and Monmouth. Closure includes all preschool programs, WCA, and OASIS.

Hundreds escape freezing temperatures at warming shelters

Robert Marshall, program manager with the ARCHES Project, said the freezing weather has lead to an increased need for the unhoused.

"The individuals we serve often have complex medical conditions and are not prepared to live, let alone survive, in these harsh conditions," Marshall said Sunday.

He said cold weather supplies are in high demand. Donations of new winter socks, winter gloves, hand warmers and sleeping bags are welcome.

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

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon winter storm live updates on road closures, power outages