Light snow, freezing rain expected ahead of Sunday warmup in Portland and Willamette Valley – KGW.com

Light mixed precipitation is expected in Portland and Southwest Washington through Sunday afternoon. The gorge will still have snow and freezing rain.

PORTLAND, Ore. After a couple of nights of snow and freezing rain in the Portland metro area, Willamette Valley and Southwest Washington, it looks like the region is in for a calmer Saturday night, although light mixed precipitation is still expected. The Columbia River Gorge will still get significant snowfall through the weekend.

KGW chief meteorologist Matt Zaffino said 7-14 inches of snow has blanketed parts of the North Willamette Valley and Southwest Washington since Thursday. In Marion and Clackamas counties, there's been an inch of snow accumulation or more. Mount Hood Meadows has gotten at least 33 inches of snow and counting since the storm began.

The snow and ice mix has caused slick roads and downed trees and power lines throughout the metro area. Interstate 84 in the gorge is closed between Troutdale and Hood River and TriMet has limited bus and MAX service. People should stay home and avoid driving if possible.

Hundreds of thousands of customers are without power across the metro area. As of 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Portland General Electric reported more nearly 200,000 customers without power from Portland down through Marion County. Check for updates in your area

Gov. Kate Brown has declared a state of emergency in nine counties due to the power outages, disruptions to transportation and downed trees and power lines.

Portland metro area

Portland and surrounding areas have received between 7 and 14 inches of snow since Thursday night, chief meteorologist Matt Zaffino reported. People should stay home and avoid driving if possible. Check the latest traffic updates.

The metro area is now under a Winter Weather Advisory through noon Sunday. The National Weather Service (NWS) said there will be mixed precipitation, although not a lot of it. Additional snow accumulations of an inch or less are projected, and potentially ice accumulations of one-tenth of an inch or less.

Zaffino said mid-valley temperatures are expected to climb above freezing Sunday morning. Most of Portland west of I-205 is expected to transition to above-freezing temperatures and rain Sunday afternoon. "After that happens were back to normal with valley rain and mountain snow Monday and Tuesday," Zaffino said.

Columbia River Gorge

The western part of the Columbia River Gorge remains under a Winter Storm Warning through 4 a.m. Monday. Heavy snow fell Friday night, accompanied by east winds up to 30 mph, NWS said. Those winds will stay through the weekend, gusting as high 45 mph. There will also be more snow through Monday, between 2 and 8 inches, according to NWS. Ice accumulation between one-quarter and one-half of an inch is also possible.

The heavy snow, ice and wind has led to dangerous driving conditions. Interstate 84 in the gorge is closed between Troutdale and Hood River. Highway 14, on the Washington side of the Columbia River, is also closed between Washougal and White Salmon.

Southwest Washington

Clark County declared a state of emergency Saturday morning due to heavy snow and ice in the area. Officials are asking Clark County residents to stay home and off the roads until weather conditions improve.

"Multiple roads throughout the county, especially in Washougal, have become impassable due to deteriorating weather conditions," the county announced.

The region is under a Winter Weather Advisory through noon Sunday. Similarly to the Portland metro, mixed precipitation is expected during that time. Snow accumulation is expected top out at an inch with ice accumulation topping out at another one-tenth of an inch, NWS said.

Willamette Valley

KGW chief meteorologist Matt Zaffino said Canby got 1-1.5 inches of ice accumulation and Oregon City got 1 inch of ice accumulation by Saturday night. There were widespread reports of an inch of ice in Marion County from Friday night through Saturday morning. An Ice Storm Warning that was in place for the area has expired.

The mid-Willamette Valley is also now under a Winter Weather Advisory through noon Sunday. More freezing rain is possible during that time but NWS doesn't expect further significant ice accumulation.

Travel in the area is highly discouraged. Power outages were reported throughout Marion County.

Coast Range

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect through noon Sunday. Additional snow accumulation of an inch or two and ice accumulation up to two-tenths of an inch is possible in areas such as Vernonia and Jewell, according to NWS.

Drivers should be prepared for icy roads.

What's next?

Zaffino said some light snow and freezing rain will continue through Saturday night into Sunday.

Zaffino said the Portland area will get a light mix of snow and freezing rain, with more snow likely north and freezing likely from downtown south and west. He temperatures are expected to climb above freezing by Sunday afternoon.

Monday will bring warmer temperatures with moisture turning to rain and ending the threat of winter weather.

Freezing rain and snow will continue to fall in the gorge all weekend.

The weather through Sunday will remain as cold as its been this winter, with temperatures falling into the low 20s at night and potentially not getting above freezing during the day. Prior to this stretch, the coldest Portland had been this winter was 27 degrees, on Jan. 23 and Dec. 29. In fact, Portland had reached 40 degrees every day this winter before these snowstorms came, Zaffino said.

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Light snow, freezing rain expected ahead of Sunday warmup in Portland and Willamette Valley - KGW.com