Gridlock Strangles Portland Traffic Amid Snow Storm

Portland, Ore. — Typical Portland rush hour turned into rush hours after Wednesday’s winter storm that dumped inches of snow across the region.

The Oregon Department of Transportation’s www.tripcheck.com, showed a traffic map full of red and yellow well into to the night.

www.tripcheck.com 

Snow totals across the area ranged from an inch in western Washington county to reports of 10-inches in parts of Gresham.

Four severe weather shelters were open overnight after a state of emergency was declared in Portland and Multnomah County. Temperatures dropped below freezing overnight with more snow. A combined 500 beds will be available, according to city and county officials. They added that nobody will be turned away, pets are allowed, and the shelters will be accessible for people with disabilities. The shelters are located at Arbor Lodge, Charles Jordan Community Center, Salvation Army Moore Street Gymnasium and East Portland Community Center.

The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Warning for the metro region through early Thursday mroning.

* WHAT…For the Winter Storm Warning, heavy snow. Additional snow
accumulations of 1 to 4 inches. Winds gusting as high as 35
mph. For the Wind Chill Advisory, very cold wind chills
expected. Wind chills as low as 5 above zero.

* WHERE…Greater Portland Metro Area.

* WHEN…For the Winter Storm Warning, until 4 AM PST Thursday.
For the Wind Chill Advisory, until noon PST Thursday.