The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) advises the traveling public to be mindful of weather forecasts through the weekend and next week, as snow in hilly areas is likely overnight and could create hazardous morning commutes Sunday through Tuesday.
The National Weather Service has advised PBOT that rain and snow mix is likely for areas above 500 feet elevation Saturday night and Sunday night in the Portland area. Conditions may worsen before dawn on Monday morning, with a 17% chance of producing an inch or more of snow that could make for hazardous travel during Monday morning commute hours. East winds from the Columbia River Gorge could make for colder conditions east of I-205, Monday through Wednesday, raising the potential for snow there.
Any snow that does accumulate at lower elevations such as downtown and Central Portland neighborhoods, is expected to thaw during afternoons, with temperatures remaining in the 30s.
The forecast has some uncertainty. In the days and hours in advance of a winter storm, forecasts often change. For many Portlanders, this weekend may be a convenient time to locate your winter weather supplies, including a snow shovel and ice melter for use in keeping your sidewalk passable in snowy conditions.
People driving, walking or biking are advised to be prepared to respond to the weather conditions you see on your trip. If you see snow or icy precipitation, slow down. Use extra caution. Be prepared to slow down or pull over to park your vehicle and wait for conditions to improve. Dress warmly.
The public should be prepared for worse conditions than is forecast, including more snow and snowfall that arrives earlier or later than expected. Forecasts come with uncertainty, and weather forecasters have difficulty predicting snow in the Portland area.
Be prepared to travel based on the conditions you encounter during your trip, including carrying traction devices like chains and an emergency weather kit in your vehicle. Helpful items to include in addition to chains are a snow shovel, bag of sand, jumper cables, first aid kit, basic tools (pliers, wrench, screwdriver and knife), blanket and warm clothing, extra food and water, cell phone and extra charger, and a flashlight.
View additional winter weather travel tips online.
During winter weather, PBOT works to keep vital public transit lines and emergency routes open. These snow and ice routes are the most critical for our city’s police and fire stations, hospitals, schools, frequent bus routes, the downtown core, and major business districts -- about a third of our entire street grid. PBOT’s mission is to provide at least one passable lane in each direction on these routes so that vehicles with front wheel drive or traction devices can get through.
Depending on the severity of snow and ice, it can take up to three 12-hour shifts for our crews to sufficiently treat our routes with anti-icer. In a major snowfall, it can take our crews up to one 12-hour shift to plow our routes.
See our Winter Weather Center for a full interactive map of our routes.
Source: Portland Bureau of Transportation