The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Tuesday, February 20 and continuing at least through Wednesday morning. Between 3 inches and 7 inches of snow is expected in the Portland area, with heavier snowfall beginning this afternoon that could impact the afternoon and evening commute.
The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) advises the public to avoid travel, if possible, or to take public transit. The traveling public should exercise caution on Portland roadways. Overnight freezing temperatures and additional snowfall overnight will also impact the Wednesday morning commute. PBOT crews are in 24-hour emergency operations and patrolling Portland streets to monitor conditions and treat roads as needed.
The Weather Service also warns that a second snow event could create hazardous traveling conditions on Wednesday night into Thursday morning.
The public is advised to monitor the weather at their homes and at their travel destinations as road conditions could vary throughout the city.
A parking amnesty will go into effect beginning at 3 p.m. today in Portland's parking meter districts. To encourage people to leave their cars legally parked and take alternate means of transportation out of the Central City, PBOT will allow cars to remain parked in City meter districts without penalty until noon on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018.
The City of Portland’s Snow and Ice Plan discourages private vehicle use and encourages public transit use instead. Plan ahead for your public transit commute by calling 503-238-RIDE (7433), visiting TriMet.org for bus and MAX light rail schedules and alerts or PortlandStreetcar.org for streetcar schedules and alerts. In snow and ice, plan for bus delays of 20 to 30 minutes. Know where your transit stops are before venturing out. PBOT provides tips for winter travel for people walking, biking or driving. Learn more at: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/snow
Check www.PublicAlerts.org for breaking news and information on major service disruptions. Visit http://bit.ly/snowicepdx to learn more about how PBOT responds to snow and ice events in Portland.
Source: City of Portland