(Dec. 14, 2021) With the National Weather Service forecasting the potential for snow above 500 feet elevation and a chance of a rain and snow mix on the valley floor, the time is right to make sure you and your loved ones are prepared for winter weather.
All year long, Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) crews evaluate and adjust winter weather plans. In the fall, we check our equipment and our crews re-orient themselves with snow plow operations and other winter response procedures. During the winter months, we keep a close eye on the forecast so we’re prepared to respond when needed.
While the potential for snow in Portland this week is low and mostly at areas above 500 feet in elevation, it's a good time for everyone to make sure they are prepared for whatever winter may bring in the coming months:
- Avoid travel in severe weather, and make a plan to help you delay your travel if at all possible. If you must travel, consider public transit your first option to avoid driving.
- Make a checklist for your home, business, and/or vehicle. Property owners, tenants and businesses should have supplies on hand, such as ice melt and snow shovels to clear sidewalks as well as pathways across their driveways.
- Everyone driving in Portland should carry snow chains and an emergency kit in their vehicle all winter long.
- Create an emergency plan with your family or work colleagues that emphasizes telecommuting, public transit and emergency meeting locations for your commute. Check our Winter Weather Center to see the snow and ice routes nearest you.
- Stock up on provisions ahead of major winter weather events such as food, water, clothes, and medicationsyou, your family, your pets, or your business will need in case you are stranded by winter weather -- at home, or on the road in your vehicle.
- Check in with vulnerable neighbors who may need help stocking up on supplies ahead of a storm or clearing their sidewalks afterward.
- Know your elevation, and the elevation of areas you are traveling to and through. Check the interactive elevation map in the "Elevation, Weather and Traffic" section of PBOT’s Winter Weather Center to see if your area is located at 500 feet or 1,000 above sea level. Use PortlandMaps.com to look up any address in Portland and find the approximate elevation.
- Report downed trees. Did you see a downed tree or large limb on City property or public streets? Report it by calling 503-823-TREE (8733). Please be patient; Urban Forestry crews are minimizing safety risks and clearing the largest debris first. Emergency dispatchers are available 24 hours per day, seven days a week.
Wondering about other city services and infrastructure? Prepare and stay up to date on water pipes, garbage collection and more at the City's winter resources website. Includes how to find support, or how you can support people who are experiencing homelessness this winter.
Learn about how Portland responds to winter weather, see winter weather travel tips in English, Chinese (Simplified), Chuuck (Chuukese), नेपाली (Nepali), Română (Romanian), русский (Russian), Somali, Español (Spanish), Українська (Ukranian), Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese) and more: Portland.gov/Winter
Do you know which streets PBOT plows in your area? Check the maps on the Winter Weather Center: www.winterreadypdx.com
State Highways are maintained by the Oregon Department of Transportation, for example: SE Powell Boulevard, 82nd Avenue and SW Barbur Boulevard. See Ask ODOT and check highway conditions before you go at TripCheck.com
Be aware of weather forecasts, use caution, and, if possible, delay your travel to avoid traveling during forecast snow or ice. Consider public transit, and check trimet.org/alerts and portlandstreetcar.org for service alerts before you go.
Remember property owners, tenants and businesses are responsible for clearing sidewalks of snow and ice. It is important that sidewalks are clear so that people who are walking to transit and people with disabilities can move about safely.
In icy conditions, PBOT strongly advises delaying travel if possible. If people must travel, PBOT recommends taking public transit.
See areas at 500 feet or 1,000 feet or higher in the PBOT Winter Weather Center
Use PortlandMaps.com to look up any address in Portland and find the approximate elevation
- Stay informed. Sign up for PBOT alerts via text or email. Go to PBOT’s Winter Weather Center to track real-time weather, traffic, road closures and plow information. Sign up at Public Alerts for emergency notifications from all regional agencies via text, email or phone.
- Never abandon your vehicle in a travel lane, especially on rail tracks for Portland Streetcar and MAX light rail. If you choose to drive and your vehicle loses traction, pull over into a shoulder or legal parking space. You can call for a tow truck and remain with your vehicle. Or you can leave your vehicle legally parked and walk carefully to a public transit stop or other safe place.
- Don't get towed! Any vehicle blocking a travel lane or otherwise creating a safety hazard is subject to citation, tow and impound. The cost of a citation and tow for abandoned vehicles preventing free passage is $206. This is in addition to the citation cost of a Class B traffic violation (ORS 819.100) with a presumptive fine of $270. Additional costs to store a towed vehicle longer than four hours is $28 per day.
PBOT’s Misson: In winter weather, our crews work around the clock on our designated snow and ice routes to make sure there is one passable lane in each direction as soon as possible after a winter storm.
This means that front wheel drive vehicles or vehicles with traction devices such as snow chains will be able to get through.
Due to our modified operations since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, we urge the public to give our crews extra time and extra room. To keep our crews safe from coronavirus, vehicles will only have one person in them: the driver.