The City of Portland and most other cities in the path of an impending ice storm have closed their offices today. The storm is expected to drop around a third of an inch of ice making travel dangerous and increasing power outages, because of falling trees. Many medical clinics, businesses and other facilities are also either reducing hours or remaining closed until Wednesday when the storm will have passed and temperatures move above freezing.
Most schools in the path of the storm are remaining closed today following the MLK Day holiday. Portland Public Schools are closed along with all public schools in Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Columbia and Marion counties.
MAX trains aren't running in Portland for the fourth day in row, because of damage from a storm on Saturday. Falling trees damaged the overhead wire and ice accumulated on the tracks. Shuttle buses are running between all of the MAX stops. Buses are also running on all of the regular lines. Some buses have chains and can't travel above 25 miles an hour. LIFT is only running for medically necessary trips.
33,000 customers of Portland General Electric remain without power Tuesday morning. Crews worked through the night repairing power lines damaged by strong winds on Saturday. PGE has brought in crews from Washington, California and Idaho to help restore power ahead of an ice storm that's expected to cause more outages tonight. Pacific Power has fully restored power in Portland and most power has been restored throughout its territory.