Interstate 84 shut in Gorge as ice storm hits region

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – State transportation officials have shut down a 45-mile section of Interstate 84 between Treoutdale and Hood River due to icy conditions.

The closure came Tuesday afternoon as freezing rain swept into northwest Oregon, including parts of Portland.

An ice storm warning was in effect in the Portland metropolitan region and the Columbia River Gorge until 10 p.m. Pacific.

Portland can expect one-tenth to one-quarter of an inch of ice, but areas east of Interstate 205 and into the Columbia River Gorge could get an inch or more.

Oregon has been pummeled by snow and below-freezing temperatures for days, but a warming trend starting Wednesday could mean flooding later in the week.

And an incoming weather system is also beginning to spread freezing rain across a broad swath of the Cascades, Central Washington and southwest Washington.

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ODOT news release:

Freezing rain is once again in the forecast for northwest Oregon on Tuesday and could make travel conditions dangerous on Portland-area roads and in the Columbia River Gorge, ODOT warned Monday.

In addition, the potential for rain and wind continues through Wednesday, which may cause downed trees, slides and flooding from the Southern Willamette Valley to Portland and the Columbia Gorge, and in the Coast Range and Cascades, the agency said.

The Gorge may see especially difficult conditions, with freezing rain and wind. ODOT will close Interstate 84 if the road is unsafe.

ODOT recommends that drivers be prepared for conditions.

-The safest thing to do is stay off the road. Wait to travel if possible. If you must go, be prepared for dangerous conditions.

-Allow extra travel time and expect delays.

-Carry chains. You may need them. Chains have been required for travel in many areas already this winter and will be again if needed for safety.

-Have supplies in your vehicle. A slide or downed tree could have you stopped for hours. Be prepared with blankets, food, and water in your vehicle.

-Remember, driving on ice is never a safe choice.

A freeze and quick thaw followed by heavy rain is always a recipe for debris slides. That could include trees, mud and rocks.

These conditions also create the danger of trees falling on roads. ODOT has been working in recent years to reduce this threat by removing dangerous trees that could threaten the road, although storms may bring more trees down. Crews will be ready to respond. Travelers need to be especially wary along roads that go through steep, wooded slopes. Plan your travels accordingly!

ODOT hydrology teams are always available and we have additional crews standing by this week by in case of slides.

Please be patient. If there is a lot of debris on the roads, ODOT will not be able to get to all of it right away.

Each slide requires an inspection by ODOT’s geo/hydro team to make sure there’s no danger of additional falling debris. Only then can the cleanup begin.

For the latest information on road conditions, visit KTVZ’s TripCheck page.

As for Central Oregon, which has been preparing for possible flooding, Deschutes Basin Watermaster Jeremy Giffin said the brunt of Tuesday’s storm “appears to be heading a little north of us,” and that they “do not see any major concern as of yet.”:

“But if the precipitation amounts increase, we could have some issues, particularly on Whychus and Tumalo creeks locally,” Giffin said. “And if the rain and warm temps persist, then we may have issues on the Crooked River and tributaries, as well as Willow Creek in Madras. But again, with the cool-down on Thursday, I do not see a run-off event in the works.”

Many have been asking about the Deschutes River in Bend, Giffin said, “but with lots of room in the reservoirs, we do not see a concern as of yet. The biggest issues appear to be likely urban flooding within city limits and potential snow load issues when the rain gets caught in all that fresh, dry powder.”

“We do have a ton of low-elevation snow, and I think a flood event will likely happen — just not this week,” the water official added.