The Salem area is seeing freezing rain and a coating of ice on many local roads as a winter storm hit Thursday evening.
Forecasters are warning of continued ice and power outages due to precipitation and cold weather, and about 3,400 households and businesses in Keizer were without power for about four hours Thursday evening.
We’ll update this post Thursday evening with the latest information on forecasts, road closures and other impacts.
Interstate 5 closed north of Eugene; ODOT says stay home
10:06 p.m. (Salem temperature 23 degrees, McNary Field)
Several major highways are closed across the state due to collisions and weather conditions.
The Oregon Department of Transportation urged Oregonians to stay home.
“Stay off the highway for Thursday night if you can – highways may be closing due to the severe weather and multiple-vehicle crashes in the icy road conditions. It is impossible to estimate when each highway can reopen,” the agency said in a press release.
Interstate 5 was closed in both directions around 7:30 p.m. just north of Eugene at milepost 200.
Multiple crashes were closing Highway 22 east of Lyons, the department said.
Interstate 84 was closed in both directions between Troutdale and Hood River due to severe weather.
Keizer outages repaired
7:50 p.m. (Salem temperature 23 degrees, McNary Field)
Power was restored for many homes in Keizer by about 7:45 p.m. An outage caused by high winds left over 3,400 households and businesses without power starting around 4 p.m.
Portland General Electric listed a new outage near Keizer Station affecting 1,038 customers caused by high winds starting at 7:45 p.m. Power was restored by 10 p.m.
Highway 22 closed east of Gates
6:30 p.m.
Highway 22 will be closed near milepost 34, just east of Gates, due to a motor vehicle accident, Metcom 911 said on Facebook.
The Oregon Department of Transportation reports all lanes of the the highway and the shoulders are closed in both directions.
State offices closed in Salem, Portland
6:04 p.m. (Salem temperature 25 degrees, McNary Field)
State government offices in the Salem and Portland areas will be closed Friday. The Salem-area closure covers government offices in Marion, Polk, Yamhill, Linn and Benton counties, according to the Department of Administrative Services.
The Oregon State Capitol will be closed Friday, according to the Oregon Legislature website.
All Salem-Keizer School District activities are canceled Friday.
Updated weather forecast
5:25 p.m. (Salem temperature 25 degrees, McNary Field)
The National Weather Service is reporting wind speeds at 14 miles per hour. The agency’s latest reading at McNary field recorded a wind chill of 13 degrees.
Keizer outage, Magic at the Mill canceled, rides to shelter
4:48 p.m. (Salem temperature 25 degrees, McNary Field)
An outage at 4:08 p.m. left 3,492 households and businesses in Keizer without power, Portland General Electric reported. The outage was caused by high winds. No estimated restoration time was listed.
The Willamette Heritage Center has canceled tonight’s Magic at the Mill event. Ticket holders should check their email for additional information.
All Family Building Blocks locations and relief nurseries will be closed Friday.
Cherriots is offering free rides to all local shelters, including the warming center at Salem First Presbyterian Church, 770 Chemeketa St. N.E., as well as Salem’s Union Gospel Mission (men’s shelter), Simonka Place (women and children), Safe Sleep United (women), Ray of Hope in Woodburn, SOCC in Mill City and the Gates Youth Association in Independence.
Updated weather forecast
4:12 p.m. (Salem temperature 25 degrees, McNary Field)
Cold temperatures and dangerous wind chills will continue through Friday morning, with the coldest temperatures the region has seen since February of 2014, according to the National Weather Service.
The Gorge will stay below freezing, with freezing rain, through Saturday night at the earliest.
While Salem has so far been spared the high winds and widespread outages Portlanders are seeing, the region is seeing freezing rain in parts of south Salem and Keizer, said Rebecca Muessle, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Portland.
“The air is really dry there at the surface, so precipitation as it’s falling, some of it is essentially evaporating,” she said. But freezing rain should begin in the early evening and continue through the night and into Friday morning, she said. Snow is unlikely.
Whether Salem begins to see power outages will depend on ice accumulation, Muessle said. Portland’s outages so far have mostly come from trees falling on power lines. If enough ice accumulates on branches to bring them falling down, Salem will likely also see outages, she said.
Friday’s latest forecast calls for rain or freezing rain in the morning and early afternoon, then rain after 1 p.m. The day’s high is expected to go above freezing, near 36 degrees. Less than a tenth of an inch of new ice may accumulate.
Marion County Circuit Court closed
3:35 p.m. (Salem temperature 25 degrees, McNary Field)
The Marion County Circuit Court closed for the day on Thursday at 3:30 p.m., and will reopen Tuesday Dec. 27.
YMCA closing early
3:20 p.m. (Salem temperature 27 degrees, McNary Field)
The Withnell Family YMCA will close early at 5 p.m. Thursday, according to an email sent to members at 3 p.m.
On Friday, preschool at the Y will be closed, and the facility will open late at 11 a.m., weather permitting.
Storm brings power outages to the Portland area
2:35 p.m. (Salem temperature 27 degrees, McNary Field)
Over 10,600 PGE customers in the Portland area are without power as of 2:55 p.m. Thursday, according to the website. The area is under a wind advisory strong enough to topple power lines and trees until 7 a.m. Friday.
Salem is not experiencing widespread outages as of 2:55 p.m., with 9 customers without power in the Highland neighborhood.
Marion Polk Food Share cancels some food pantries; Meals on Wheels still scheduled for Friday
12:35 p.m. (Salem temperature 27 degrees, McNary Field)
Two local food pantries will be closed Friday as freezing rain is expected to cause slick roads. Marion Polk Food Share is canceling its weekly pop-up pantry near the Northwest Human Services dental clinic in west Salem, and AWARE Food Bank in Woodburn will also close, spokesman Sam Tenney said. Other food pantries supplies by the food share may also close or change hours.
Meals on Wheels deliveries will take place as scheduled Friday, and members of the Marion County Jeep Patrol have volunteered to help with deliveries as needed. Curbside meal pick-up at Center 50+ and the South Salem Senior Center are canceled for Friday and meals were distributed Thursday instead.
Updates on food services will be posted live on the food share website.
Original story, 12 p.m. Thursday
Forecast
Snow is likely on Thursday between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. in Salem, according to the National Weather Service. A winter storm warning will be in effect tonight with snow and freezing rain before 7 p.m. and a possible ice accumulation of up to 0.3 inches and less than half an inch of snow.
On Friday, expect freezing rain before 10 a.m, then rain, with possible ice accumulation. The forecast shows a high of 36 degrees.
Things are predicted to heat up by Saturday, with a high of 52 degrees and a 100% chance of precipitation.
Roads and city response
The city’s website lists current road conditions and traffic impacts from inclement weather. On Wednesday, city deicing crews pre-treated major roadways and bridges in the area.
Updated snow routes around Salem can be found on a city map, which will be updated as things change. The city website has more information about its response measures and alerts, and asks that residents take extreme caution while driving Thursday and Friday.
Ahead of the freezing rain, the city has pre-emptively closed four streets as of 1:15 p.m. Thursday according to the website. They are:
- South Chandler Dr. from Azalea Dr. to Biegler Ln.
- Southeast Bluff Ave. from Heather Lane to Ratcliff Dr.
- Southeast Lyman Ave from Hillside Ln. to Vista Ave.
- South Joseph Street behind Sprague High School
The state Department of Transportation tracks road conditions throughout the state on TripCheck, and lists safe driving tips.
OneRain provides weather information for Salem up to the minute.
People can find information about local snow and weather responses by the city and Marion County online.
The city first posts updated information about severe weather on its Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts before issuing statements on its website or through FlashAlert.
Cherriots has not altered any schedules or routes as of 1 p.m. Thursday. Any changes will be announced on its website.
Outages
Utilities are warning of likely power outages across western Oregon, including the Salem area, due to ice accumulation.
Portland General Electric customers can check outages and estimated restoration times on the PGE website. To report an outage or downed power line, call the utility at 503-464-7777 or 800-544-1795.
Pacific Power customers can view an outage map online and report an outage by calling 877-508-5088 or by texting OUT to 722797.
Salem Electric customers can view outages online and call 503-362-3601 to report an outage.
Utilities recommend preparing a power outage kit that includes:
- Flashlight or headlamps.
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio and alarm clock or watch.
- Car charger for your cell phone, laptops and/or tablets.
- 72-hour supply of ready-to-eat food and water.
- Extra blankets.
- Bottled water for people and animals (if you rely on electricity to pump water).
Closures
Chemeketa Community College: All Chemeketa campuses are closing at 1 p.m. Thursday due to weather. Afternoon and evening activities are canceled.
City of Salem: City offices are open as of noon Thursday, though many city employees are working from home.
Marion County Circuit Court: Closed Thursday at 3:30 p.m., will reopen Tuesday Dec. 27.
Emergency shelters
Emergency warming shelters will open Thursday night at Salem First Presbyterian Church, 770 Chemeketa St. N.E., starting at 7 p.m. The shelter has capacity for 75 people. To check availability, call 971-304-9211.
Homeless service provider The ARCHES Project transports people by van to the shelter from the ARCHES Day Center at 615 Commercial Street N.E.
People interested in volunteering at the shelter can submit an application on ARCHES’ website.
Cherriots also offers free bus rides to emergency shelters.
Polk County Warming Shelters will be open Thursday through Saturday nights in Independence at the Gate Youth Association, 1501 Monmouth St. (across from Central High School), as well as Thursday night at the Falls City Community Center, 320 N. Main St. (west end of Fire Hall).
People can arrange transportation to the warming centers, including from rural Polk County, by calling 503-949-4987. Families and pets are welcome at the shelters. Intake is from 7-9 p.m. and the center remains open until 7 a.m.
Contact reporter Abbey McDonald: [email protected] or 503-704-0355.
JUST THE FACTS, FOR SALEM – We report on your community with care and depth, fairness and accuracy. Get local news that matters to you. Subscribe to Salem Reporter. Click I want to subscribe!
