PORTLAND, Ore. — Between three and five inches of snow fell in Hood River overnight, according to KGW meteorologist Rod Hill. A winter storm warning in the Columbia River Gorge ended Wednesday morning as temperatures in the area are expected to warm and snow should turn to rain, Hill reports.
There's a winter storm warning for the Cascades through 10 p.m. Wednesday as an ongoing snowstorm could drop as much as two feet of snow throughout the day. Timberline has reported 18 inches of new snow and Mt. Hood Meadows 17 inches since the storm started Tuesday.
The Coast Range is under a winter weather advisory Wednesday for a mix of rain and snow showers near and above 1,000 feet.
Snow photos: Cascades, Hood River hit with heavy snow
Closer to Portland, a strong cold front pushed through the I-5 corridor early Wednesday morning, bringing gusty winds as strong as 40 mph and steady rain. The steady rain will break into showers, heavy at times, throughout the day. Hill said valley rain totals may reach an inch.
The snow level is at 3,000 feet Wednesday morning but will lower by the afternoon to 2,000 and perhaps as low as 1,500 feet.
"Here in the I-5 corridor, scattered dustings of snow continue to be a possibility later Wednesday night and Thursday morning," Hill said.
Hill said there may be a wintry mix during the day on Thursday. Highs around 40 degrees on Thursday should melt any dustings of snow.
School closures
Multiple school districts in the Gorge have closed or delayed the start of classes Wednesday. In Oregon, all schools in the Hood River County School District (3,761) are closed and in Southwest Washington, all schools in the White Salmon, Stevenson-Carson, Glenwood, Mill A and Skamania 2 school districts are closed. Other districts have delayed the start of school two hours.
CLOSINGS: See a complete list of closures
Traffic impact
On Oregon's north coast, a landslide late Tuesday night closed U.S. 30 about halfway between Astoria and Clatskanie. ODOT said at least ten truckloads of rock and mud slid onto both lanes of traffic. A semi truck drove right into the slide, but the driver was not hurt.
Crews are working to clear the debris and make sure the road is safe. The highway is expected to be closed through Thursday, Dec. 1, if not longer.
U.S. 26 was closed early Wednesday morning between Interstate 205 and Sylvan due to downed power lines, which caused traffic delays for some commuters. The highway reopened in both directions shortly after 6:30 a.m.
