Freezing temperatures expected through the weekend
UPDATED: 9 p.m.
A flurry of snow fell on the Willamette Valley Wednesday, starting in Yamhill County about 1 p.m. A winter storm warning issued by the National Weather Service extended to midnight. The forecast changed late Wednesday to include possible occasional snow showers Thursday and Friday.
The weather wreaked havoc on the Portland Metro Area, where people were stuck in traffic for hours and some school districts ended up in a public relations nightmare because buses couldn't get students to their homes.
The situation was less dramatic in Yamhill County, but conditions became icy enough for several school districts to begin calling late starts and closures Wednesday evening for the following school day.
Bitter cold is expected for the next several days. Temperatures are predicted to not exceed 35 degrees through the weekend. The current forecast calls for a low of 19 degrees Friday night. After a blustery Wednesday, wind speeds are supposed to drop into single digits Thursday and be light and variable the rest of the weekend.
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UPDATED: 7 a.m.
The National Weather Service is continuing its winter storm advisory. It says snow will start this morning in the Willamette Valley, with accumulation expected on roads. Drive with caution.
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UPDATED: Tuesday, 3:54 p.m.:
The National Weather Service office in Portland has upgraded a winter storm watch for Wednesday to a winter storm advisory for the central Willamette Valley, including McMinnville. The forecast says that snow will begin falling a little after sunrise, with accumulations of up to four inches possible.
The weather service says there is a 30 percent chance that snow could begin falling after 4 a.m. Patchy freezing fog is also predicted for the morning, adding to potentially difficult driving conditions.
Temperatures are expected to remain at or below freezing the rest of the week, possibly dropping into the teens Thursday night and Friday night.
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The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for Wednesday, from 8 a.m. to midnight, saying the incoming storm looks likely to bring snow and possibly freezing rain, starting around sunrise in the southern part of the valley, and moving north.
Snow may be mixed with freezing rain and sleet, the weather service said, and new snow and sleet accumulation of up to three inches is possible.
Temperatures tonight are expected to drop into the high 20s.
The forecast remains more uncertain for later in the week, but snow showers are possible through Saturday, with nighttime temperatures in the 20s, and daytime temperatures in the 30s.
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