C.O. thaws out: Hwy. 97 reopens after ice, crashes forced 2 weekend closures; JCSD 509J schools closed, Culver delayed

(Update: Hwy. 97 reopens: JCSD schools closed, Culver on 2-hour delay)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A rainy warmup brought welcome relief from snow and ice for much of the High Desert on Sunday and allowed Redmond Airport’s runway, closed by freezing rain on Saturday, to reopen for flights. But continued icy conditions made for the second closure in two days of US Highway 97 in north-central Oregon.

In addition, Jefferson County 509J schools are closed Monday due to road conditions,, while Culver Schools are on a 2-hour delay.

ODOT announced around 8:25 p.m. Sunday the closure of a U.S. Highway 97 from the U.S. 197 junction at milepost 67 to Interstate 84 in the Columbia River Gorge “due to multiple crashes and ice on the road.”

Much like Saturday night’s 12-hour closure of a longer, 92-mile segment of Highway 97, south to Madras, ODOT advised motorists to avoid travel in the area and to “expect an extended closure likely to last through the night.” The highway reopened around 9:45 a.m. Monday, ODOT Region 4 spokeswoman Kacey Davey said.

Much of the High Desert awoke to a mix of rain and sun Sunday as over a week of frigid, at times sub-zero temperatures finally warmed above freezing.

The rain made for shiny, compressed “snowpack” and large, icy puddles on many a lawn, field and open area around the storm-hit region, while sidewalks were taking more time to clear of the lingering ice and snow as the much-sought thaw from two weeks of winter storms finally took hold.

Recent Northwest storms have affected daily life, from canceled or delayed schools, events and concerts to supplies of groceries and gas.

The warmer air that on Saturday had sent temperatures to the upper 30s and even 40 degrees in the La Pine/Sunriver area finally moved northward overnight. The warmup also extended to the Cascades, where Santiam Pass had risen to 37 degrees by late Sunday morning, while it was raining and 39 at Bend Airport.

But some areas didn't see the same warmup, with a 32-degree reading and mixed precipitation at the Madras Airport t 8 p.m. Sunday, and light mixed precipitation despite a 45-degree temperature at Prineville Airport.

The Redmond Airport runway, which shut Saturday evening due to freezing rain, reopened to commercial traffic at 8:30 a.m., though it was not yet reopened to general-aviation planes, Airport Director Zachary Bass said late Sunday morning.

Some weather warnings and advisories remained in effect for a time, including a winter weather advisory until noon Sunday for the east slopes of the Cascades, including La Pine, Sunriver and Sisters, for more mixed precipitation.

Late Saturday night, after trouble arose, ODOT hut a 92-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 97 from Madras to Interstate 84 in the Columbia River Gorge due to ice and multiple crashes. It reopened about 12 hours later.

“Avoid travel in the area,” ODOT said in a travel advisory issued at 10:20 p.m. “Expect an extended closure likely to last through the night” - and it did.

The National Weather Service had issued another winter weather advisory for Central Oregon from Saturday afternoon through 7 a.m. Sunday for freezing rain and ice accumulations around a tenth of an inch.

The Bend-Redmond area held below freezing Saturday, as light rain turned to freezing rain at Redmond Airport around 4 p.m. and kept falling until about 9:30 p.m.

ODOT earlier reported major slowdowns north of Redmond and south of Madras. The Juniper Butte area was hard hit, as numerous semis that were having trouble getting traction pulled over to chain up and some were reported to have jackknifed or slid, according to social media posts.

Follow traffic updates on our ODOT TripCheck page.

Redmond Airport Director Zachary Bass said late Saturday some planes were being diverted due to the freezing rain and runway closure, which meant more flight delays or cancellations Sunday morning. Be sure to check with your airline, Bass said, as "things can change so quickly," in terms of runway conditions.