- By Bill Roberson and Doug Fontaine
KATU Web Staff
Thanks for following the KATU.com storm coverage blog. We will be using it again for future weather events, so please check back.
Watch KATU for all the latest news, sports and weather coverage, and get the latest updates on KATU.com. --Bill Roberson--____________________________
1:00 p.m. The latest weather forecast and Storm Team reports have been posted, and we will continue to update conditions and weather today on KATU.com.
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12:42 p.m. UPDATE FROM PGE: The loss of two large "feeder" power lines this past hour has pushed the PGE outage total back to 4,900.
2,400 customers are without power on the Glencullen-Bridlemile feeder near Beaverton...It went out at 7:40 a.m.
Almost 1,000 more were affected on the Lake Oswego - Iron Mountain feeder line shortly after 7:00.
The cause isn't known yet. PGE crews have been dispatched.
Most other outages are scattered through the Portland, Gresham, Troutdale, Sandy, Estacada areas and Washington County,
PGE crews worked through freezing rain overnight to push the total below one thousand at one point early this morning.
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10:25 a.m. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for many northern Oregon counties, but at lower elevations only wind and rain are expected. Higher elevations, such as Sandy, could see snow or freezing rain.
Mountain passes and the Cascade mountains will see large snow totals, so bring chains (they are required) if you have to drive over any passes.
PGE reports that power has been restored to all but about 1,000 customers, but that number can go up or down as new outages occur and others are repaired.
PGE officials say they had all crews out this morning working to keep the power on.
Traffic reports indicate most people heeded warnings about driving on slick roads, as traffic on major highways is light and moving well.
The latest weather outlook shows the low tonight in the Portland area will stay above freezing, although outlying areas might be colder and see some re-freezing on roads, so be careful driving.
KATU's television coverage of the winter weather will continue as needed, with full reports today on KATU Midday News at 11:00 a.m. and then on First News at 4:30 and through the evening hours.
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8:40 a.m. PGE reports some feeder lines have come down, and a total of 4,900 homes are without power. Crews are working now to restore power.
A new weather forecast will be posted on KATU.com about 10 minutes from now. We will continue to update the weather and other information throughout the day.
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7:30 We have changed to network coverage of President Bush's news conference concerning Iraq and other issues.
Weather coverage will continue on KATU.com.
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7:15 a.m. MAX officials report that MAX service is being halted for trains going east of Lloyd Center due to a train struck at 60th Ave. Crews are working to free the train, and shuttle buses and runniong to keep people moving.
Elsewhere, MAX trains are running without problems.
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7:00 a.m. The latest forecast has been posted on KATU.com. Looks like it's going to warm up well above freezing most everywhere except in the Gorge, where it will take another day to improve.
KATU Storm Team television coverage continues, with constant updates of road conditions in Oregon and Washington, closure information and even viewer photos of weather around the area.
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6:45 a.m. As conditions improve on area highways, ODOT has lifted the chain-up requirement for trucks travelling through Portland; it has changed to a "carry traction devices" advisory.
KATU meteorologists were expecting the rain to continue until about noon, now they have revised that to say the rain will taper off around 9 a.m., followed by overcast conditions but less falling moisture.
Conditions on sidestreet, hills and outlying areas continues to be dangerous, don't drive if you can avoid it. Try to take MAX, the bus or chain up if you have to head out.
Stay tuned to KATU and KATU.com throughout the day for the latest weather, closure and road condition updates.
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6:20 a.m. I've posted the latest forecast from meteorologist Julia Radlick, click the link on the home page to watch it.
Conditions continue to improve in most areas, as temps rise above freezing and a steady, heavy rain continues to fall throughout the area.
As usual, the Gorge continues to be the problem area. Chains are required for travel through the Columbia River Gorge.
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5:40 a.m. TriMet and MAX trains are running, and MAX officials say trains are on time for the most part. All the buses are chained up at this time, but Mary Fetsch of TriMet says chained buses only go 25mph, so service may be a bit slower than usual. Be patient if you are taking mass transit, it will get to you eventually.
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5:20 a.m. It's a snow day for Portland Public School system students, and many other districts. Be sure to check our complete closure lists on the home page.
It looks like the warmer rain that is falling is helping and hurting, depending on where you are. It's either making streets and sidewalks extemely slick, or it's breaking up the ice and making it easier to get around.
ODOT cameras pointed at freeways show increasing traffic running at good speeds on wet, rather than frozen, pavement.
Of course, the Gorge and areas in east Multnomah County remain below freezing with freezing rain, and Julia Radlick says it could stay that way throughout the day.
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4:00 a.m. Good morning, KATU viewers and KATU.com visitors. It was an adventurous drive in from Mount Hood yesterday evening, and also to the KATU studios this morning.
It began raining very hard on the way in at 3:30 a.m., but was noticeably warmer than last night. At 4:20 a.m., the airport is reporting 36 degrees, so warmer air is moving in to melt the snow and ice, but it will take a while.
Conditions remain very dangerous on the roads, even with Portland and other area crews working hard overnight to sand and de-ice roads.
Side streets and hills remain especially treacherous. If you have to drive this morning, you need to chain up and take it really easy on the roads.
KATU morning newscasts and KATU.com will continue to provide you with up-to-the-minute weather information and closure lists, so check back and tune in.
I'll return to the blog as conditions change!
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By Shannon L. Cheesman
KATU Web Producer
10:50 p.m.
This is my last blog entry for the night. My co-worker, Bill Roberson, will be here bright and early tomorrow morning to continue our storm coverage on KATU.com. He will be blogging the latest conditions for the morning commute.
Sleep well everyone...
10:45 p.m.
ODOT update: I-205 Northbound ramp to I-84 westbound - 1 left lane closed.
10:33 p.m.
First Christian Children Center in downtown Portland, closed tomorrow.
10:31 p.m.
Some highway updates:
I-84 into the gorge, chains required for everyone. Lots of little accidents, nothing serious.
I-84 west at I-5 has been cleared. EB I-84 to NB I-205 was closed at 7.45 and may not be reopened.
Hwy 211 at South Upper Highland Road is closed in both directions due to power lines down.
No gridlocks into the Gorge, but pretty messy. Possible Blizzard conditions around The Dalles.
Hwy 26 - Sunset in good shape, a lot of sanding up in Sylvan. At the summit, haven't heard of serious reports. Chains required on Hwy 26 towards Mt Hood. No major incidents to report.
Conditions in Bend are snowy, so people trying to get to Bend should have chains, lots of snow.
I-5 at I-205 should be cleared by now. 10:29 p.m.
ODOT update - I-5 southbound just north of Nyberg - 1 right lane closed.
10:10 p.m.
Providence Medicap Group-Gresham will open at 11:00 a.m.
10:09 p.m.
Clark Public Utilities: The number of Clark Public Utilities customers without power has dropped to about 250. All of the outages were related to today's wind and snow. The remaining outages are scattered in several areas of Clark County. Between 3,500 and 4,000 customers were affected by outages on Sunday. All available utility crews are working to restore service, and contract crews have also been brought in. Customers can report power outages and get updated information by calling the utility's PowerLine, 360-992-8000.
10:08 p.m.
The Salvation Army in Vancouver will not be open tomorrow, Monday, December 19th for Christmas Assistance. They have rescheduled for Thursday, December 22nd.
9:52 p.m.
Construction activity at Intel Oregon has been cancelled for Monday, Dec. 19. Intel Oregon remains open for business.
9:36 p.m.
PGE Update:
PGE's outage figure remains close to 4,000. About 1,400 of those were caused by one problem on the Sylvan - Cedar Hills feeder and almost 700 more by an outage near Estacada.
Other outages remain widely scattered through the Portland Metro area, including isolated outages of 100 - 400 customers.
Outages peaked today shortly before 4:00 p.m. when about 9,500 were affected.
This will likely be the last update from PGE until tomorrow morning.
9:32 p.m.
The I-205 onramp off I-5 northbound is closed. We are hearing reports that 14 vehicles are stuck there.
9:27 p.m.
ODOT update - I-84 westbound to I-5 southbound is now open. I-84 westbound to I-5 northbound is now closed.
9:21 p.m.
Due to winter weather, Girl Scouts - Columbia River Council offices and store will be closed on Monday, December 19, 2005.
9:06 p.m.
KATU Meteorologist Rod Hill says we are still under a Winter Storm Warning. More precipitation is coming up from the south, which could translate to freezing rain. My advice - if you don't have to go out in the morning, then don't.
9:04 p.m.
The latest video forecast just got put up for those of you wanting to watch it.
9:03 p.m.
American Cancer Society Portland office. Closed on Monday.
8:59 p.m.
Carousel Learning Center in Beaverton is closed Monday.
8:57 p.m.
The dog rescue video finally made it on the web. Here's the link:
KATU viewer captures dramatic rescue on tape
8:56 p.m.
Oregon Humatology Oncology Associates is delaying start time until 10am tomorrow morning.
8:55 p.m.
ODOT update - I-84 Westbound At 33RD. All Clear.
8:54 p.m.
Bethany Village Montessori School closed Monday.
8:43 p.m.
Cambridge College. No Classes. Faculty and Staff to report at 11:00 AM if weather permits.
8:42 p.m.
Clark Public Utilities: About 500 customers are without service due to damage caused by the high winds. The outages are scattered in many areas of Clark County. All available utility crews are working to restore service, and contract crews have also been brought in. Customers can report power outages and get updated information by calling the utility's PowerLine, 360-992-8000.
8:13 p.m.
We have some video of two dogs getting trapped in the middle of a lake. One was rescued and the other ended up getting out on its own. I'll be putting it up on the site shortly, so stand by.
Also, St. Therese School in NE Portland is closed on Monday, December 19 due to the weather.
8:12 p.m.
Lake Oswego Soccer holiday indoor soccer camp cancelled Monday.
A reminder that we have closure information at the following links:
School closures
Organization closures
8:10 p.m.
BIG NEWS FOR TRUCKERS - ODOT is now requiring that ALL large trucks chain up before entering the Portland metro area.
Also, chains for ALL vehicles are required on I-84 through the Columbia River Gorge from Troutdale to past The Dalles.
While chains are not required for cars in the Portland metro area, ODOT advises all cars to chain up before driving on Portland-area state highways tonight, if you have to go at all.
8:08 p.m.
More power lines down, this time on Highway 211 at South Upper Highland Road. All lanes are closed.
8:07 p.m.
Latest forecast video is on the web... we just did an 8 p.m. update.
Also, power lines are down on Highway 211 at Morgan Road. All lanes are closed and fire is on the scene.
8:06 p.m.
ODOT update - I-84 eastbound to northbound I-205 is closed.
8:04 p.m.
Catlin Gabel: All offices closed Monday.
8:00 p.m.
Happy Valley Preschool and Child Care will be closed on Monday.
7:59 p.m.
ODOT update - Westbound I-84 at 33rd, the jack-knifed semi has been cleared.
7:55 p.m.
Here's a neat idea from one of our viewers:
In winter/icy weather, I always carry a can (1 lb coffee can in my case) of sand in my car, which I can throw under a stuck tire & sprikle in front of the drive wheels to get un-stuck. Sand is cheap & available at most home improvement centers.
7:50 p.m.
Another ODOT update - 6 semis stalled on I-5 northbound prior to Carman Drive. All lanes are blocked. ETA to open is when they get chained up.
7:49 p.m.
This just in from ODOT - I-84 westbound to southbound I-5 has been opened. Northbound still closed.
7:48 p.m.
US Bank's New Employee Orientation meeting - canceled
7:48 p.m.
Morning Mass has been cancelled for St. Matthew Church in Hillsboro.
7:46 p.m.
Grace Lutheran Childcare in Vancouver, WA will be closed on Monday December 19th.
7:45 p.m.
Your blogster is back... feeling refreshed with a tummy full of pizza and co*ke.
Here's the first update:
It appears that another news station accidentally ran a crawl saying that the Blazer game had been cancelled when it really had not. Here is the press release we got at the station from the Blazers camp:
Due to some apparent confusion involved with a weather crawl this afternoon, prior to the start of the Trail Blazer game, the team announced that the club and Global Spectrum will honor all unused tickets from tonight with an exchange (based on availability) for the games on either December 30 against Memphis or January 1 versus the Los Angeles Clippers.
The crawl was in reference to a local elementary school that was canceling a bus to tonight's game, but at various times, only the words "Blazers game cancelled" were visible on the television screen.
Tickets can be exchanged at the Rose Quarter Box Office on the day of the game, either on the 30th or the 1st. Fans should direct any questions to the Trail Blazers ticket office at (503) 797-9600.
7:11 p.m.
We just ended our winter coverage on the air. The plan is to broadcast hourly updates up until our 11 p.m. show.
I've been blogging for over five hours now and will be taking a much needed break, but don't worry... I'll be back with more updates soon.
6:58 p.m.
Viewer comments: Just left 242 in Clackamas - cars in the ditch, the road is filled with cars. Jack.
6:57 p.m.
Valley View Day School on Sunnyside Road in Clackamas CO is closed Monday.
All locations of Vermont Hills Family Life Center Closed Monday.
Oregon Columbia Chapter NECA Meeting Monday at 12 pm cancelled.
Tigard Phagans and Orchard WA Phagans Beauty Schools Closed Monday.
Oregon College of Oriental Medicine College and Clinic closed, Monday December 19, 2005.
Oregon College of Oriental Medicine will be closed Monday
Childrens Learning center in Gresham closed Monday (both locations).
6:55 p.m.
ODOT report - WB I-84 at 33rd, jack-knifed semi blocking the center lane.
6:54 p.m.
Viewer comments: My husband is driving home from Wauna Mill.Hwy 30 at Bradly Hill between Knappa and Wauna has two wrecks on it. There is lots of ice. Seaside has a temperature of 32degrees. It rained around dusk it is wet and icy.
6:51 p.m.
Columbia Machine Inc. office and plant are planning to be open for normal business during the recent winter storm that started on 12/18 and is forcasted to last through 12/19.
Employees reporting to work are urged to use caution and drive slowly with the possible icy road conditions.
6:50 p.m.
ODOT says they have officially closed I-84 westbound at the I-5 split. Jack-knifed semis are the problem.
6:47 p.m.
To ensure public safety in light of the recent winter storm, the facilitiesat Fort Vancouver NHS--including the Visitor Center and reconstructedfort--will be closed to the public on Monday, December 19.
6:46 p.m.
Get those flashlights and candles out - PGE says the number of outages may increase by tomorrow morning.
Oregon College of Oriental Medicine College and Clinic closed, Monday December 19, 2005.
6:44 p.m.
I-5 at Nyberg Road northbound is moving at a very slow crawl. None of those people will be home any time soon.
6:43 p.m.
The ramps at the I-84/I-5 split appears to be closed in both directions. Reporter Dan Christopher says a constant chorus of honking horns is coming from a long line of cars stuck behind the mess on the westbound side. I can just imagine how frustrated those people must be feeling and you have got to wonder if some of them will run out of gas.
6:41 p.m.
Oregon College of Oriental Medicine College and Clinic closed, Monday December 19, 2005.
6:40 p.m.
This in from a viewer:
My son and friends have been trying to get out of the Clackamas Town Center parking lot for the last 3 hours but all the exits are blocked with lines of cars that aren't moving.
6:37 p.m.
Josanna Christian School in Vancouver will be closed Monday. No extended day care as well.
6:36 p.m.
From Washington County Public Works:
The storm arrived several hours ahead of schedule so we will quickly re-group. Crews that were finishing up with the de-icer application are now transitioning into trucks with sanders. They will try to deal with problem areas and emergencies until we can bring a full contingent in at 8:00 p.m. We had planned on midnight, but it looks like Mother Nature has other ideas. Our current plan will be to keep those folks out all night working on the major system with most of the effort in the urban area. Again, our focus is tomorrow morning's commute.
6:35 p.m.
I almost forgot - The latest video update is on the site.
Also... this in from a viewer - The I-205-Sunnybrook intersection was impassable (5PM), and Sunnybrook up to SE Sunnyside is closed. Had a hard time getting home--went the back way and got a push from a nice stranger--thanks!!! Jeannie
6:34 p.m.
An update from Ron Carlson - The Blazer game is on as planned. Tipoff was at 6 p.m. Not too many fans in the stands.
6:33 p.m.
Update from PGE:
PGE crews continue to rapidly restore power to PGE customers. Only about 2,500 are currently off-line, down from more than 9,500 shortly before 4:00 pm.
PGE official, caution, however, that the outages could climb late tonight if the forecast freezing rain arrives. Freezing rain adds weight to wires, and more significantly, to tree limbs, making them more likely to break.
The vast majority of outages are now reported in the Portland area, through Estacada and Oregon City, then as far west as Banks in Washington County. Higher elevations are also harder hit.
An outage tip: Don't tie up phone lines making repeated calls to report and outage. If you see your neighbors have power, and you don't, that's the time for another call to PGE at 503-464-7777 in the Portland calling area, 503-399- 7717 in the Salem calling area, or 1-800-544-1795 anywhere else in PGE's service territory.
One way to facilitate that process, is to leave your porch light switch on...makes a house without power stand out to PGE crews that are looking for it.
PGE has called in every available line crew member and some contract crews.
6:32 p.m.
S.W. 14th and Clay, ramp off I-405. The ramp has been sanded and a few cars are on the road. Most drivers are being cautious. Not a major problem spot. I-5 and I-84 are a different story.
6:30 p.m.
I-84 at Grand - the ramp is closed. Nobody is moving.
6:21 p.m.
I-84 westbound heading toward Portland is a parking lot. Two semi-trucks got stuck at the I-84/I-5 split and traffic is backed up behind the mess.
6:12 p.m.
Ft Vancouver National Historic site visitor center and fort closed to public Monday.
6:09 p.m.
TriMet just announced that ALL of their buses are on snow routes for tonight and tomorrow morning.
6:04 p.m.
Viewer comments: I live in Vancouver, off of Mill Plain and getting from 107th and Canyon in Beaverton to my house took 2 hours of effort from 26 to I-5 north, and then 500 East.
I saw plenty of sliding cars, especially on corners like 26 east bound in the left hand lane, and then as we got close to Janzen Beach and again on 500 East near the 205 exit. But as long as people go slow, allow plenty of space and don't forget to turn INTO the skids everything should be fine. Doesn't hurt to make sure you have cables/chains just in case!!
Thanks for your coverage. I count on it for important commuter information for my job at a hospital tomorrow. N. Shorter
6:03 p.m.
Church gathering is cancelled this evening at Vibrant Covenant Church.
Westside Police activities league in Beaverton closed all day Monday.
Portland Timbers indoor soccer camp cancelled for Monday.
Grace Community Church in Tualatin - youth Christmas Party cancelled.
5:46 p.m.
Bethel Baptist church in McMinnville - Sunday evening christmas program is cancelled.
5:45 p.m.
Major traffic problems throughout the area. Semi-truck stuck on the Fremont Bridge. Highway 26 at the Metro Building at a standstill. I-5 northbound seems to be getting worse by the minute. Southbound not doing too bad.
I-84 is a mess as well. Remember - you are required to have chains if you are heading out I-84 into the Gorge. They must be on your vehicle, otherwise you will not be allowed through.
5:40 p.m.
KATU's Meteorologists are saying another band of moisture will hit around 9 p.m. with on and off snow showers throughout the night.
5:37 p.m.
Someone wrote in with a reminder - do not call 911 unless it is a real emergency.
5:36 p.m.
Legacy Health System: Childbirth education classes scheduled for Sunday evening, Dec. 18, at Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital and Legacy Meridian Park Hospital have been canceled.
Closures for Monday, Dec. 19 include the Day Treatment Center at Legacy Emanuel Children's Hospital and the Adult Infusion Clinic at Legacy Good Samaritan Hosiptal.
5:36 p.m.
Holy Cross Area School is closed Monday.
5:35 p.m.
Tualatin Indoor Soccer will close at 7pm tonight 12/18/05. All games are cancelled. Tualatin Indoor Soccer will open 12/19/05 at 9am.
5:34 p.m.
The Aesthetics Institute 2245 SE Powell will be closed Monday.
5:33 p.m.
Reporter Susan Harding is outside the KATU studios on Sandy Boulevard. The street is white... snow and ice.
5:31 p.m.
A reminder that we have closure information at the following links:
School closures
Organization closures
5:29 p.m.
Police in Washington County are advising drivers in non-injury accidents to not call for police help, but to pull over to the side of the road and exchange information.
Also, emergency units are responding to a major collision on Cornelius Pass Road and Skyline Road. Drivers are advised to stay out of that area and the area between Cornelius Pass Road and Highway 30.
Augustana Christian Church's 6 pm Christmas Pageant is cancelled tonight.
5:28 p.m.
Milwaukie First Baptist Church 7 p.m. Carol Sing is cancelled tonight.
5:27 p.m.
Snow Cap Food Bank in Portland is closed Monday.
5:19 p.m.
Warning, the roads are deceptive in many areas... it looks like snow, but it is snow covered with ice.
5:18 p.m.
Betezda Romanian Church service canceled for this evening.
Albina Head Start closed Monday.
5:17 p.m.
Reporter John Capell is at Hwy 26 at I-405. There was a big problem at an off-ramp there earlier with lots of cars spun out. The mess has been cleared and things in that area are getting better, although still slow going. Seems like a lot of people were caught off guard and are still trying to get themselves home. I wouldn't advise anyone to head out right now.
5:14 p.m.
Vancouver First Congregational Church Children's Pageant Canceled tonight.
5:11 p.m.
Tualatin Indoor soccer closing at 7pm tonite.
The Nutcracker at the Keller Auditorium and the Blazer game will both go on as planned.
5:10 p.m.
Reporter Dan Christopher is on MLK looking over the I-84/I-5 split. A semi-truck is stuck on I-84, which is backing up traffic. Other cars are stuck as well. Bad area to be in right now.
5:04 p.m.
TriMet update:
About a dozen bus lines are on snow routes this evening as TriMet deals withthe ongoing winter storm that is expected to continue tonight and tomorrowmorning. MAX is running on regular schedules tonight.
BUS
Most of the snow routes now in place are in the hilly areas in SE and SWPortland, and in Clackamas County.
All buses will be chained and on snow routes for the Monday morning commute.That means their speed will be restricted to 25 mph and they will not be onnormal schedules, but should come regularly.
MAX
All three MAX lines, the Blue, Yellow and Red, are running. Trains will runevery 10 minutes throughout the night to keep overhead wires clear.
LIFT service
LIFT door-to-door service for the elderly and people with disabilities willonly provide life-sustaining trips on Monday.
5:03 p.m.
A viewer wrote in earlier upset at KATU for making the decision to pre-empt President Bush. This viewer has a differing opinion:
A comment to a viewer on the BLOG....
I think that it is great you are covering the weather and not President Bush...I would rather hear about the weather than what he has to say anytime!! I find KATU to always be top notch with news and weather!! GREAT WORK KATU!!!
5:01 p.m.
I just updated the video with the latest forecast for those who want to watch it online.
5:00 p.m.
Southridge Foursquare Church, Oregon City, evening event cancelled.
4:54 p.m.
I-5 traffic is VERY slow. Northbound is the worst, with folks hardly moving. Southbound is faring better, although it is still slow going.
4:50 p.m.
Benefit for Zimbabwe at Portland First Unitarian Church is cancelled.
4:49 p.m.
Camas Christian Life Church's 6 p.m. Christmas program is cancelled tonight.
4:48 p.m.
Vancouver First Congregational Church Children's Pageant Canceled tonight.
4:47 p.m.
The latest PGE update:
The number of PGE customers without power has droped by a third over the past hour. The figure is now about 6000, down from 8000 shortly before 4:00 p.m.
PGE hopes to hold keep that number dropping, or at least stable, as long as current weather conditions hold. If the forecast freezing rain hits, the crews will likely confront more outages.
About 2200 of the affected customers are on one large "feeder" line southeast of Oregon City.
PGE has called in every available line crew member and some contract crews.
While most outages were on the east side of the Portland Metro area early today, the vast majority are now reported in the central and east sides, from the Portland and ORegon City areas west through Washington County.
PGE joins public officials in urging folks not to drive unless absolutely necessary. If you want to take a short walk in the snow, check on a neighbor who may need special assistance. Also, make sure you have plenty of extra coats, gloves and blankets on hand in case you lose power tonight.
4:46 p.m.
A dissatisfied viewer:
I've been a KATU fan for a long time considering your news to be quite strong, but today when I logged onto your website to get weather news I saw something that really disappoints me. The fact that you are pre-empting the president's speech for weather coverage is unacceptable. I am not a Bush fan, but he still is the president. I know that with the storm weather updates are necessary, but perhaps you could do that with a crawl, or do an update at the close of the speech. This is a very poor decision and the kind of thing that impacts my perspective of your judgement quite negatively.
Note: We will be streaming the President's comments LIVE on the web starting at 6 p.m. for those who want to watch it.
4:41 p.m.
Southwest Chruch of Christ has cancelled evening sevices tonight.
Vancouver Schools will be closed Monday.
4:40 p.m.
Portland Family Practice - closed tomorrow.
4:39 p.m.
Southwest Chruch of Christ has cancelled evening sevices tonight.
4:37 p.m.
TriMet update:
Due to the winter storm, the K-9 MAX search event, scheduled for 11 a.m. at Gateway Transit Center on Monday, December 19 has been canceled.
On another note, if you need to check bus schedules, check out the following link:
4:36 p.m.
We're getting a lot of photos from viewers and are working on getting them into a photo gallery.
View the photo gallery
4:34 p.m.
Christian Praise Center in Cornelius has cancelled its 6 p.m. service this evening
4:33 p.m.
Franciscan Montessori/St Francis Acad.: School is closed, Advisory Dinner 12/19 cancelled.
4:31 p.m.
Portland's Southeast Community Church of the Nazarene has canceled tonight's Children's Musical Extravaganza.
4:29 p.m.
St. Pius X Catholic Church 6:00 p.m. Youth Mass is cancelled tonite due to weather.
4:28 p.m.
Info on the Oregon Symphony:
Tonight's 8 p.m. performance of the Oregon Symphony's Yuletide Celebration has been canceled due to inclement weather. Ticket exchanges will be available for the 8 p.m. Monday performance at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, weather permitting. Call the Symphony ticket office on Monday after 9 a.m. at (503) 228-1353 or visit www.orsymphony.org for updated information.
4:26 p.m.
Bethel Baptist Church - Portland christmas program is cancelled.
4:25 p.m.
An update from Clark Public Utilities:
About 1,500 customers are without service due to damage caused by the high winds. The outages are scattered in many areas of Clark County. All available utility crews are working to restore service, and contract crews have also been brought in. Customers can report power outages and get updated information by calling the utility's PowerLine, 360-992-8000.
4:24 p.m.
Viewer comments: Started snowing in Ridgefield, WA about 3:00 PM today 12/18/05. We have about 3/4 to one inch so far and it is still coming down pretty heavy, and very windy.
4:22 p.m.
Greater Portland Baptist Church has cancelled all services tonight.
4:21 p.m.
Reporter John Capell off I-405. Most of I-405 is completely stopped, mainly because of a bunch of cars having problems on one of the ramps. It is one BIG mess.
4:19 p.m.
Clark County experiencing problems on the roadways. Accidents reported on SR 14 between 164th and I-205 and I-205 at Mill Plain. SR500 having problems as well. Many problem spots. Be careful.
4:17 p.m.
Anchor Carl Click just wrote in:
Just a heads up. I did a spot check of major school districts in SWW and found these three still in session Monday: Vancouver, Kelso, Ridgfield. BG, Evergreen, Camas, Longview, Hocksinson are out for Holiday. I checked some schools in Metro area, and did not find any that are still in session Monday.
Click
4:16 p.m.
Grace Lutheran Church in Vancouver, WA has canceled the 6 PM Sunday School Christmas program.
4:15 p.m.
If you are heading out I-84 into the Gorge, ODOT says chains are required. They must be ON your vehicle, otherwise you will not be let through.
4:13 p.m.
Reporter Bob Heye is at I-5 at Killingsworth. The interstate is quite a mess and the traffic is at a crawl.
He is interviewing Sam Adams, Portland City Commissioner, who says de-icing trucks are out and the city is responding. Adams says a lot of people were caught off guard and the roads are congested. As for tomorrow morning, he is advising people to use mass transit to get around, rather than driving.
4:11 p.m.
Reporter Joe English is at the factory outlet stores in Woodburn. It is dry, cold, but a little slick. Shoppers are there trying to get their holiday shopping done.
4:09 p.m.
Reporter Shellie Bailey-Shah is in Salem, which looks wet more than anything, although they did get freezing rain and snow earlier in the day. Things look pretty normal there, at least for now. When the temperatures drop tonight, it could be a different story.
4:07 p.m.
Reporter Susan Harding is on the air, but having some audio problems... what can you say... it's live TV. It took her 2 hours to get to work from Troutdale on I-84.
4:05 p.m.
Okay here's the latest... The rain band is no longer in the Salem area as the storm tracks north, but Portland is still having problems.
The morning commute will definitely be a mess, so if you have to go to work... you might want to plan on getting up really early.
4:00 p.m.
We are LIVE on the air!
4:00 p.m .
Viewer comments: Thanks Folks for your clear and timely information, both with storm coverage and generally. The tone each of you set is straightforward and personable. We turn to you first. Finally, your website is by far the most comprehensive and helpful with the information we desire. Good job. Stay the course.
Sincerely,
Robert E. McCarthy
3:59 p.m.
Just in case these don't make it on our automated list:
Emmanuel Church Carols Christmas Play 7 pm performance cancelled tonight
Pacific Medical Group's Greely Clinic in Portland is closed Monday
Caroling on the Commons 5 p.m. in Tualatin is cancelled tonight.
Portland Oregon Temple devotional services cancelled today.
3:58 p.m.
PrimePay holiday party CANCELLED!!!
3:57 p.m.
Viewer comments: Here is a story of kindness this Christmas season... I was just driving home Eastbound on Sunnyside rd in Clackamas, which is a parking lot from Kaiser Hosp to 122nd. There are many people without traction tires/devices stuck in the middle of the road. However, there is also a group of young men/adults who are assisting those drivers to get their cars out of the way for the rest of the traffic to flow. I am sure that without the help of these young men, traffic would have come to a complete stop. I would like to thank these people for their time and assistance of others.
Sincerely, Anna Ramirez
3:47 p.m.
Viewer comments: Only rain here in Mulino. But we are really would love some of the white stuff. Thanks so much for the Great coverage. KATU is who we trust for accuracy!
3:45 p.m.
We are now going live starting at 4 p.m. and everyone is scrambling to get into place. Turn on your sets!
3:43 p.m.
I just eavesdropped on the weather folks to see what I could find out. The latest is that the storm is tracking north.
3:37 p.m.
KATU Meteorologist Julia Radlick is here now. She and Rod are hunched over a weather computer going over the latest info. In case you haven't heard, Rhonda Shelby is out on maternity leave.
3:36 p.m.
The show will go on! The Nutcracker will play tonight at the Keller Auditorium.
3:34 p.m.
Viewer comments: Still snowing real good in McMinnville!!! 3:32pm Great coverage!!!!
3:33 p.m.
Airport update:
Steve Johnson with PDX says there are some delays and a few cancellations on several airlines - Delta, Northwest, Alaska, Horizon, but some of those problems have been caused by incliment weather in other cities. He says most flights are getting in and out, but people should call ahead.
3:32 p.m.
Reporter Bob Heye just got in and is getting ready to head out with a photographer. He said Sunnyside Road is a complete mess and that you should avoid it. The road is unsanded, cars sliding every which way.... just really bad.
3:25 p.m.
Tips from PGE:
Protecting public safety is Portland General Electric's (PGE) number one concern during severe storm situations. Our top priority is to clear downed power lines and ensure that facilities such as hospitals and fire and police departments have power. PGE urges citizens to stay indoors during storms to avoid potential hazardous situations that may involve downed power lines and other equipment.
Here are some tips to help residents stay safe during storms:
Electricity is invisible -- lines don't have to spark or sizzle to carry electricity. Even if the line looks insulated (like cables or phone lines), always assume that downed lines are live and extremely dangerous. Never touch downed lines with your body or any objects. Be sure to keep kids and pets away. If you see a downed power line, call PGE immediately at 503-464-7777 or 1-800-544-1795 outside of the Portland area.
If someone comes in contact with a downed line or is using equipment that touches a power line, do not attempt a rescue. You may become a victim as well. Call 911 immediately and wait for emergency personnel to respond.
Stay away from substations and the electrical equipment inside. They contain high voltage! Substation fences may be energized when/if a fault occurs inside the substation.
Water and electricity should never be mixed. Don't touch anything electrical if you're wet or near water.
If a power line falls on your vehicle, don't panic. Assume the line is energized, and don't get out of the vehicle. Stay inside unless you are in immediate danger from fire or a power line that is moving about. Warn others not to touch you or the vehicle. If you are forced to leave your vehicle while it is in contact with a power line, jump as far as you can and land with both feet together. Be sure no part of your body touches the equipment and ground at the same time!
Prepare an emergency kit that includes flashlights, battery-operated radio, wind-up or battery-operated clock, extra batteries, fire extinguisher, bottled water, canned food and manual can opener. Also consider including paper plates, plastic utensils, a Thermos, blankets, camp stove and firewood in your kit.
Be patient and prepared for a power outage that may last for an extended period of time.
3:23 p.m.
The closures are coming in fast and furious... too fast to keep listing here. We have a link on our main page that automatically updates closures, utility info and other storm-related items.
3:20 p.m.
Viewer comments: Heavy Snow and Wind in Beaverton. Everything is white.
3:17 p.m.
I just put the latest video update on the web if you want to watch it. It's getting nasty out there!
Also... KATU is planning on going live from 4:30 to 7 p.m. tonight. We were supposed to be airing President Bush's speech at 6 p.m., so for those wanting to see that, we are planning on having a link on our web site where you can watch it live.
3:13 p.m.
Another satisfied customer:
KATU Staff!Tell your people that we have APPRECIATED the NEWS BREAK-INS about the storm, as the other stations haven't broke in ONCE.
Thank you again for being Awesome and keeping us up to date.
Marc Peterson, NE Portland
3:12 p.m.
Beaverton Nazarene Church is closed.
Oregon college of Oriental medicine holiday party cancelled tonite in SE Portland.
Riverwest Church in Lake Oswego Evening Services cancelled
3:11 p.m.
We are going on the air early tonight starting at 4:30 p.m. for winter storm coverage.
Aurora Chorus Concert tonite at Catlin Gable school postponed til January.
3:08 p.m.
SouthLake Foursquare Church: The SouthLake Family Christmas scheduled for tonight has been cancelled due to weather.
3:07 p.m.
Don't forget the animals! Here's a link with tips on caring for them during winter storms:
3:05 p.m.
SouthLake Foursquare Church: The SouthLake Family Christmas scheduled for tonight has been cancelled due to weather.
3:04 p.m.
The following comes from a KATU viewer who regularly listens to scanner traffic in Vancouver and provides us with reports.
Scanner traffic is indicating a large traffic accident has just occurred on the I-5 bridge between Vancouver and Jantzen Beach. Very icy conditions per WSP. Southbound traffic is reported to be backing up to Mill Plain in Vancouver.
2:57 p.m.
This in on the wire:
The Oregon Department of Transportationhas reopened the southbound lanes of I-5 betweenRoseburg and Cottage Grove.
A 50-mile section of I-5's southbound lanes were closed forabout an hour late this morning as crews worked to de-ice the roadsand clear them of multiple-vehicle wrecks.
2:55 p.m.
Viewer comments: Snowing hard in Vancouver at 2:45pm. No sleet, no freezing rain. Winds east gusting to 40 mph.
2:51 p.m.
Portland International Raceway has cancelled its Winter Wonderland event at 10 pm this evening.
2:50 p.m.
The following is an update from PGE:
As we hit midafternoon, the number of PGE customers affected by today's outage has hit 9,500. Even with falling snow and some ice on the roads, the overwhelming majority of the outages were caused by wind: tree limbs and tees blown into power lines.
The power interruptions remain widely scattered throughout the Portland Metro area and the Mt. Hood and Western Columbia Gorge areas, with a few now appearing in Salem and vicinity. The largest concentration affects more than 2200 customers in the Redland area near Oregon City.
PGE has called in all available line repair crews.
PGE urges all customers to stay away from any downed utility line, even if it looks harmless. If you seen a downed line, call PGE immediately. If you have to drive, please drive carefully, keeping yourself and other safe and avoiding hitting a power pole.
2:48 p.m.
You can watch the latest forecasts on the web. I have been updating them regularly as the updates have aired. I just put a new one up.
2:44 p.m.
An opposing point of view on whether KATU should interrupt the golf game for storm updates:
Viewer comments: Thank you for interupting the golf game to give me the weather updates! I know some golf addicts will be upset, but it seems crazy to watch a sunny weather game taking place thousands of miles away when the real story is the local weather. Thanks for being there, KATU.
2:43 p.m.
Might want to get those flashlights and candles out.
Clark County says approximately 1,200 to 1,500 are without power. The largest outage is in Camas, affecting approximately 800 customers. There is another outage reported in the Battle Ground area, as well as scattered outages throughout the county. All emergency crews have reported in for work as well as private contractors.
2:41 p.m.
Send us your photos! At KATU.com, we love viewer storm photos and even feature them in photo galleries.
Click here to send them in
2:40 p.m.
Another closure - Imago Dei Community Church, 5 p.m. service cancelled in Portland.
The following link is good if you are keeping tabs on closures, power outages and other weather-related updates:
Organizational closures
Bookmark the following link for school closures, although I think many may be closed anyway for Winter Break:
School closures
2:36 p.m.
The KATU News room is in full swing. Reporters and photographers have been dispatched to various areas, producers are working hard, the assignment desk folks are busy fielding phone calls.
Just heard that two flights have been canceled at the airport.
2:33 p.m.
Viewer comments: Please, please do not interrupt my TV golf game with stuff that I can look out my windows and see. It is so funny for you to think it is news about stuff we already know about.Your programs should deal with something new to us. Thanks, Bob.
Sigh... you can't make everyone happy.
2:32 p.m.
Some more closures to report. I think if you had any plans tonight, you can assume they have been canceled, but I will continue to post them as they come in.
Multnomah Co. Library: Due to inclement weather, all libraries will close today at 3 p.m.
Abundant Life Church: Both PM services are cancelled (5:00 and 6:30).
Apostolic Faith Church: Church service has been canceled for this evening. Christmas Concert has been rescheduled to Friday, December 23, at 8:00 p.m.
City Bible Church: All Sunday evening activities are postponed until Wednesday. Please visit www.citybiblechurch.org for updated information.
Greater Portland Bible Church: The A.D. Venture at 5:00 PM is cancelled for tonight.
2:30 p.m.
Viewer comments - Bull Mountain is about half-white with small snowflakes sticking on the ground. The wind is still gusting although it's slowed-down a bit.
2:29 p.m.
I justed walked outside the station and there is snow everywhere and it is still coming down. Last time I looked, it was ice.
2:27 p.m.
Portland Christian Center has cancelled its Christmas Concert performances at 4:30 and 7:30 pm. this evening.
Grotto Christmas Festival of Lights Cancelled Sunday eveningSt. Aidan Church Cancels 5:30 pm. Blessing & Carol Service tonight.
2:24 p.m.
The following e-mail came into the station and pertains to folks in Washington County:
I am sending you this from my home in the West Hills where the snow is coming down fast and hard. Following is the report I have just received from our Road Operations Manager, Dave Schamp, out in Hillsboro. I will be sending further updates as I receive them. Cheers, Anne Madden, PIO, Washington County Department of Land Use and Transportation.
The east winds have been causing problems with downed trees throughoutthe area. Our on-call and standby folks have been very busy throughoutweekend. In preparation for the forecast ice/snow event we are currently applyingde-icer to the higher elevation problem areas like Barnes Road. Becauseof the inversion we had been focused on the lower areas for the pastweek or so, now its time to go to work in the higher sections. Crewsshould have that well in hand by early evening. We are also planning on having a full contingent of sanders outbeginning at mid-night tonight. Our goal is to stay ahead of this eventas much as possible assuming the worst will occur just before themorning commute. Phil Voelker is suggesting that we could be under the gun all dayMonday, and then have another event on Monday night and into Tuesdaymorning. If that's the case we will be positioned to rotate the folkscoming in at midnight tonight onto another all night shift beginningMonday at midnight.
2:17 p.m.
We have school closures on our web site, but there are other closures coming in. One of them is the Cedar Mill Bible Church - their Christmas Delights Program has been canceled.
We are now doing more storm updates on air, so be sure to watch KATU News for reports on the latest conditions.
2:13 p.m.
Viewer comments - Snowing in Biggs Jct ground is white & wind is blowing moderatly
Viewer comments - It began snowing about 20 minutes ago on Bonny Slope, Thompson & McDaniels Rd. near Forest Heights/Cedar Mill. NE Washington County. We are experiencing large flakes, a lot of wind, and snow is accumulating on the ground. The kids love it!
Viewer comments - In Clackamas near 142nd Rd and Sunnyside Rd :Icy Pellets started about 1:20pm and then it turned to light fast falling soft snow by 1:30. The snow is blanketing the ground and side streets in our neighborhood. It is a beautiful sight. A great way to start the kids Christmas break from school! To snow playing we go!2:05 p.m.
We are getting multiple reports from the Salem area that snow is coming down. Here in Portland, there are reports of sleet and snow.
1:59 p.m.
One look at the ODOT cameras and it is clear that Portland is quickly turning into a sheet of ice. If you don't have to drive, don't. It looks treacherous out there.
1:56 p.m.
Another viewer in Keizer says that after about an hour of freezing rain, it is now snowing in Keizer.
1:55 p.m.
A viewer wrote in saying downtown Salem is seeing snow and it is starting to stick. Large flakes.
Outside the news station, the roads are a sheet of ice.
1:54 p.m.
PGE is reporting that 7,000 customers are without power, up from 3,500 earlier today. The outages are widely scattered throughout the Portland Metro area and the Mt. Hood and Western Columbia Gorge. PGE is calling in all available crews.
1:51 p.m.
The KATU News crews are rolling into action in preparation for our evening newscast. Anchor Steve Dunn is sitting at a camera in the newsroom getting ready to go on air with an update at 2 p.m. Rod Hill is busy on the phone.
1:48 p.m.
We are getting reports of hail in Tigard. Things are starting to happen fast. My husband called and said his truck was already white.
1:46 p.m.
Sleet outside the KATU station at Northeast 21st and Sandy.
1:43 p.m.
We are hearing reports of snow in some areas.
1:41 p.m.
Heavy snow in Wilsonville, scattered power outages in various areas. Eugene got freezing rain at 11 a.m. Salem by noon. Portland is next!
