Winter Storm Warning in effect from 4 a.m. Thursday
A Winter Storm Warning will be in effect from 4 a.m. Thursday to 10 a.m. Friday in Forest Grove and most of NW Oregon, the Portland office of the National Weather Service said. As the region braces, much is still uncertain, but local agencies like Forest Grove Fire & Rescue are weighing in.
"Heavy mixed precipitation expected," the agency said in the warning. "Total snow and sleet accumulations up to one inch and ice accumulations between one tenth and two tenths of an inch. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph," the federal agency said.
The agency urged those traveling to consider postponing their plans. The agency emphasized that roads, especially especially bridges and overpasses are likely to be slick and hazardous.
"We do have concerns folks [will] wake up for work, notice it is still dry out and head to work, then have a very tough time getting back home from work in the evening," the NWS said.
The latest forecast shows the winter storm starting in the central and southern Willamette Valley in the early morning and then moving northward as the morning progresses.
Forest Grove Fire & Rescue: 'Our uneducated weather thoughts'
"This is likely to provide a better chance of winter weather than we saw last week," Forest Grove Fire & Rescue said Wednesday.
"Because this is expected to start during the morning commute and last through the day, plan to stay home from school or work. Be prepared for slick driving conditions and power outages. Keep your house warm and electronic devices charged up," FGF&R added.
Cold Weather Advisory
The NWS also issued a Cold Weather Advisory for 7 p.m. Wednesday through 12 p.m. Thursday, noting that the wind chill could make the temperature feel like 10 - 25 degrees.
"Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures," the NWS said, urging those headed outdoors to use common sense, dress warmly and cover their skin, and avoid being outdoors in wet conditions.
Power outages
With high wind gusts, icy roads, and freezing rain, conditions are ripe for power outages.
Forest Grove Light & Power maintains a webpage for information on dealing with power outages, as does Portland General Electric.
Road information and TriMet
If you do need to travel, check tripcheck.com for up-to-date travel information and to see area traffic cameras.
TriMet is preparing for the weather, too.
The regional transit agency plans to run MAX trains overnight to keep ice from building up on overhead wires, and is putting heavy-duty chains on about 10 buses at each of their garages.
Most TriMet buses are also equipped with "drop-down" chains that can be activated, which are most useful when snow first begins to fall, said TriMet spokesperson Tia York in a press release.
The agency will send out crews to assess early morning conditions, and will place ice melt down at TriMet facilities.
"We’d like to remind everyone riding TriMet during this winter weather event to please use caution going to and from stops and stations, when using stairs or simply walking down the sidewalk," York said. "If freezing rain moves through as predicted, these areas could become very slick, and we want everyone to stay safe."
Visit trimet.org/alerts to check for delays or disruptions.
GroveLink altering Thursday bus routes.
"GroveLink will follow Snow Route 1, bypassing Vista, Watercrest and Forest Gale Dr," Ride Connection said of their free bus service that operates in Forest Grove. "Please meet the bus at bottom of Forest Gale Drive. Stay tuned for updates as conditions may change," the nonprofit added.
Cold Weather Shelters
County emergency cold weather shelters are active; they're located in Beaverton.
More information can be found online.
Those who cannot afford TriMet fare will not be turned away if they are riding to a cold weather shelter; they are, however, asked to notify their driver that they are headed to a shelter.
Schools
The Forest Grove School District checks road conditions at 5 a.m. However, conditions could change after that. Visit the FGSD website for more on their school policies around inclement weather.
