Hwy. 26 from Mt. Hood to Warm Springs reopens after high winds down trees, Hwy. 97 at Maupin also open again

(Update Highway 26, 97 reopens)

WARM SPRINGS, Ore. (KTVZ) – The latest storm to power into Oregon Thursday night was bringing extreme winds as predicted, downing trees and causing the travel problems the Oregon Department of Transportation had warned about, closing both U.S. Highways 26 and 97 for hours.

A 30-mile stretch of Highway 26 was closed from Mount Hood to Warm Springs (milepost 57 to 87) Thursday night “due to extreme wind and downed trees,” ODOT Region 4 spokeswoman Kacey Davey said.

“We will open the highway when it is safe to do so,” she said – and until then, “avoid the area.” The highway reopened by early Friday.

Highway 97 also was closed for a time between the U.S. 197/Maupin Junction and Shaniko at milepost 62 due to spun-out vehicles and crashes and reopened later Thursday night. “Delay travel if possible,” the ODOT advisory stated during the closure.

ODOT had warned that severe winter weather Friday and Saturday will sweep into lower elevations, including Portland, the Willamette Valley and the Coast, in addition to the mountain passes and Columbia River Gorge. So the Oregon Department of Transportation's advice is simple: Don't go anywhere if you don't have to.

Snow and ice are not the only hazards brought by winter storms. Heavy rain and wind can cause landslides, rock fall, downed trees and high water on the roadway. Drive with caution, no matter where you are going through the weekend.

Here's ODOT's Thursday afternoon update.

Conditions are likely to make travel difficult or impossible at times, so rescheduling this weekend’s travel plans may be your best option. Road and weather conditions can change quickly. For the latest state highway information, visit Tripcheck.com, and for the latest weather, visit the National Weather Service.

Portland is expecting snow starting on Friday, and the Columbia River Gorge is expecting near-blizzard conditions with high winds, poor visibility and snow.

If you are planning to travel between Western and Central or Eastern Oregon this weekend, ODOT crews caution travelers to reschedule their trip.

All of these routes may be affected by severe weather. Cascade passes are forecast to get heavy snow, high winds and near zero temperatures over the weekend. Interstate 84 has the lowest elevation of our west to east routes and is one of our highest priorities, but with blizzard conditions and freezing temperatures in the forecast there is a chance it may close.

We monitor all routes closely and close roads when conditions become unsafe or the roads are impassible.

If you must travel this weekend, be prepared

Safety is our priority – for travelers and our road crews. If you decide to travel, plan extra time for your journey and carry emergency supplies. Delays and closures are common during winter storms. Expect to encounter chain restrictions if traveling in mountain passes.

Give snowplows and emergency crews extra space to do their work, and never pass a snowplow on the right. Our crews are working hard to clear roads, but their job becomes more difficult when disabled cars and trucks block traffic.

To help reduce traffic and stay safe, consider working from home or taking public transit. Or, take a snow day and give our crews time to do the hard work and get the roads clear. If you’re out walking or rolling, bundle up and go slow because conditions may be slick.

For more winter weather driving tips, see our winter travel news packet.

To see images from this winter event from across Oregon, see our January 2024 Flickr album.