NORTH COAST, Ore. —With winter storm warnings and advisories in effect across much of the state, county officials on Oregon’s North Coast are urging people to stay home.
Clatsop County officials say the hazardous and icy conditions that arrived Saturday morning have made it difficult to apply treatments to roads and sidewalks. Local roads and portions of highways closed because of the ice Saturday morning.
“Do not drive,” an alert from the county said. “If you do so, you are putting law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical personnel and public works employees at risk.”
In Tillamook County, officials also warned residents to prepare for possible power outages due to the ice. A winter weather advisory for the area is in place through 10 p.m. Saturday.
In Clatsop County, near Cannon Beach, Pacific Power reports outages affecting 2,876 customers. Power is expected to be restored by 8:30 p.m.
Outages are also affecting 8,844 customers in Seaside. The cause is under investigation and the situation is expected to be resolved before 8:30 p.m.
Downed trees have impacted power for over 200 customers in the Svensen area. Power is expected to be restored before 7 p.m.
The Sunset Empire Transportation District has cancelled all route service for the weekend because of weather and road conditions.
U.S. 101 reopened Saturday afternoon after being closed in both directions at the junction with U.S. 26 between Seaside and Cannon Beach in Clatsop County because of hazardous road conditions. The Oregon Department of Transportation said trucks without tire chains were losing traction or jack-knifing.
Crews were worked through Saturday morning to spread sand on the road. In the meantime, the Astoria Bridge and the Youngs Bay Bridge in Astoria closed for a time because of freezing rain. Both have reopened as of 1 p.m.
Transportation officials warned, however, that severe weather could force highway closures throughout northwest Oregon this weekend.
Warming centers in Clatsop County opened Friday night, and LiFEBoat Services, a nonprofit that serves the homeless from its location at 1040 Commercial Street in Astoria, offered expanded hours during the daytime so people had a warm place to stay.
A warming center in Seaside operated by Helping Hands plans to be open through Tuesday. The shelter is located at 1530 S. Roosevelt.
The National Weather Service says people should expect cold and freezing conditions through the weekend.
On the coast, people should expect to see mainly freezing rain with the possibility of some snow. The rain is predicted to ease Sunday morning though it will remain very cold through the early part of next week.
For current information about road conditions and closures in Oregon, visit ODOT’s Trip Check page