PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The Latest on winter storm in Oregon (all times local):
9 p.m.
The winter storm may have its first victim. Portland police released a statement Saturday saying a woman in her 50s is believed to have died of exposure due to cold temperatures.
She has tentatively been identified as a 52-year-old who resides in Downtown Portland. The Oregon State Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy and ultimately determine the cause of death.
One month after a rare winter storm brought Portland to a halt, snow fell once again in Oregon’s largest city on Saturday, and freezing rain was forecast for later on.
Snow and sleet made for treacherous roads in Oregon on Saturday, with the state police warning that they couldn’t keep up with all the crashes.
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2:30 p.m.
Snow and sleet are making for treacherous roads in Oregon, with the state police warning that they can’t keep up with all the crashes.
The National Weather Service said that by early afternoon 3 inches of snow had fallen on top of freezing rain in the Eugene area. Oregon State Police said crashes were “continuous” on Interstate 5 between Albany and Salem, and officials urged people to stay home.
On Twitter, the state police wrote: “We can’t keep up with slide offs and crashes in Mid Willamette Valley.” They posted photos of several crashes, including one of a tanker truck that slid off a roadway and a jack-knifed semi.
The city of Portland closed its community centers and indoor pools due to the conditions, and many other attractions were closed as well, including the Oregon Zoo.
Whiteout conditions and deep snow drifts prompted the closure of several highways in Eastern Oregon, including Interstate 84 between Pendleton and Ontario.
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