New storm blows in, topples many trees, sparks outages

The latest in a month of snowstorms blew into the High Desert Monday, accompanied by gusty winds and rain, toppling numerous trees, sparking power outages affecting thousands around the region and triggering a snowslide near Santiam Junction but also bringing lots of fresh powder for holiday-week skiers and boarders to enjoy,

Traffic was getting by the slide near milepost 77 and Hogg Rock, a slide-prone area about four miles west of the Santiam Pass Junction. The slide was reported around noon and ODOT crews were sent to clear it, a spokesman said.

Winds gusting well above 30 mph — Redmond recorded a 64 mph gust just before 3 p.m. — caused trees to fall around the region, and other damage too — witnesses said the “H” was blown off the Home Depot sign in Redmond.

A tree fell across the southbound lanes of Highway 97 in the early afternoon south of Sunriver, between Vandevert Road and South Century Drive. Numerous trees were reported down in the Tumalo area, including blocking Old Bend-Redmond Highway.

A mid-afternoon power outage affected nearly 1,300 Madras-area Pacific Power customers, the utility reported. Most had their power back by about 4:30 p.m.

A Madras-area traveler said winds were gusting nearly 70 mph, causing one semi-truck to overturn and blowing another off the road.

The first wind-related power outage of the day in the area was reported around 7:30 a.m., affecting 859 Pacific Power customers on Bend’s south end.

Utility spokesman Ry Schwark said the wind blew a pair of power lines together, causing them to short and burn out, needing replacement. The power was restored around 9 a.m., about 90 minutes earlier than initially estimated.

Track Pacific Power’s Oregon outage updates at https://www.pacificpower.net/ed/po/ooi.html.

Central Electric Cooperative reported 521 members lost power Monday morning in Black Butte Ranch. Most had power back by late morning, and the other 26 accounts by 2 p.m. — but a new outage was affecting about 420 members in Bend and Redmond in the late afternoon.

Monday evening, about 200 CEC members in southwest Redmond lost power after a tree fell onto a power line near 61st Street and McVey Avenue.

Track outage updates for CEC here.

Midstate Electric had about 200 members out of service late Monday afternoon, mostly in the Three Rivers area. Their outage map is here.

Numerous trees fell during the afternoon, from Gerking Market Road to Dayton Road, and from Larch Avenue in Sisters to 33rd at Smith Rock Way in Terrebonne, some bringing down power lines as well.

The National Weather Service issued a high wind warning for the High Desert from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday, warning of westerly winds 30-40 mph with gusts to 60 mph.

A weather spotter Monday morning reported about 4 1/2 inches of snow in 24 hours on the south end of Bend. Another weather spotter north of La Pine reported five inches of snow Sunday and five more Monday

While the snow has kept things slick and tricky for holiday-week travelers, it’s heavenly for skiers and snowboarders (and those who depend on their business) as Mt. Bachelor reported another 20 inches of snow in 24 hours for a 101-inch base as of Tuesday morning.

To the south, near Diamond Lake, Oregon Highway 230 — just reopened Sunday after a week-long closure — was closed again for a time Monday from milepost 0 to 24 due to more downed trees from the heavy snow. ODOT reported.

By the way, winter officially arrived at 8:48 p.m. Monday.

NewsChannel 21’s Alex Biston said the snow is expected to turn to rain at mid-morning in some areas as the temperatures warm, but a cold front after this system will send temperatures dropping, with highs only around freezing and lows in the teens by Christmas.

The High Desert was far from alone, as blizzard conditions were reported on I-5 at the Siskiyou Pass in southern Oregon.

With a busy, challenging week of holiday travel ahead, ODOT warned drivers to expect challenging conditions around the state and to slow down, turn off cruise control and exercise patience.

Keep fuel tank full (in case you get stuck in road closure).

Carry emergency supplies (water, food, warm clothes, flashlight, etc.)

Turn off your cruise control

Increase the following distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you.

Keep cell phone charged up (but don’t use it while driving)

Keep a watch on weather conditions throughout the day in anticipation of the next snow storm which could make current road conditions worse. Tune to local radio stations for update travel information. (You can also find TripCheck updates on KTVZ.COM here.)

“ODOT appreciates the patience of travelers who delay their trips or experience longer commutes,” Monday’s advisory said. “We cannot be everywhere at once to clear the roads and we cannot clear the roads when they are stacked with traffic. The cooperation of the traveling public is imperative in keeping the highways passable.”