Guide to the Winter Weather Center

Accessibility and interpretation

Content in the Winter Weather Center map may not be accessible for people using screen readers. Call PBOT 24/7 Maintenance Dispatch at 503-823-1700 to find or report an emergency road hazard. Contact PBOT Customer Service at 311 or 503-823-4000 for assistance with the map. Interpretation available.

Plow activity and routes

View full size image of Winter Weather Center map of Portland showing city emergency response routes and where PBOT vehicles like plows and salt trucks are, in real-time.

When you open the interactive map during a winter weather event, the first level is called “Plow Activity & Routes.” 

During winter weather, this map shows where salt trucks, snowplows, and other PBOT vehicles are along our emergency routes, in real time. These routes are the most critical roads for police and fire stations, hospitals, schools, frequent bus routes, our downtown core, and major business districts, about one-third of our entire street grid.

This level of the map includes this helpful safety tip:

• Do not pass snowplows and other equipment. PBOT crews have limited visibility when driving trucks in winter weather. You will find the road safer behind them than in front of them. 

Visit the Winter Weather Center

Elevation, weather, and traffic cameras

View full size image of Winter Weather Center map of Portland with camera icons for citywide traffic cameras, and contours for parts of city 500 and 1,000 feet above sea level.

The third level of the interactive map is called “Elevation, weather, and traffic cameras.” It outlines what parts of the city are 500 and 1,000 feet above sea level. It shows where the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and/or the National Weather Service (NWS) forecast ice accumulation over the next 72 hours. Increments of ice accumulation are noted from 0.1-inch up to 0.5-inch. 

This section also shows live pictures from city and state traffic cameras, if operational. To view, click the camera icon to pull up location, date, and time information.

This level of the map includes these helpful safety tips:

• Check elevation. Before you go, check elevation and forecasted accumulation at each point on your journey. A single storm can produce wildly different road conditions throughout the city based on timing, weather patterns, and geography.
• Stay informed, give yourself extra time. Click on traffic cameras for current road conditions in Portland. Go to ODOT’s TripCheck for road and weather conditions throughout Oregon. For breaking news on major service disruptions, check Public Alerts and follow @PBOTInfo on all social media.

Visit the Winter Weather Center