Portland-area storm warning spurs school closures, delays

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for much of northwest Oregon and southwest Washington Thursday, prompting Portland to close all city offices and dozens of schools to delay or cancel classes.

The service says an unusually strong winter storm will bring with mixed precipitation in the greater Portland and Vancouver, Washington, areas.

Officials say snow will start falling Thursday and then change to freezing rain in the coastal mountains and inland areas. Freezing rain is predicted to continue inland until midnight and especially near the Columbia River Gorge with up to a quarter inch of ice possible.

The weather service says generally from 2 to 4 inches of snow could accumulate.

In the greater Seattle area, a winter weather advisory for up to 3 inches of snow in the lowlands has been issued from Thursday afternoon through Friday morning.