Vacation travel is expected to return to almost pre-pandemic levels between December 23 and January 2.
In Oregon, more than 1.3 million are expected to drive and an additional 137,000 fly to their vacation destinations, according to the AAA’s annual travel forecast.
The streets are expected to be full and the airports to be full. Snow forecasts in the Willamette Valley, Portland, and mountain passes could cause delays and dangerous conditions.
Find out the latest weather, traffic, and airport conditions you may encounter this holiday weekend here.
Follow the vacation coverage of reporters for the Statesman Journal here.
3:20 p.m. Thursday: Thick fog on I-5 is approaching the California border
Heavy fog has been reported on Interstate 5 near Siskiyou, north of the California border, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation’s trip check.
The Willamette Valley, mountains, Columbia River Gorge, and central, southern and eastern Oregon are likely to see varying degrees of snow and freezing temperatures during the three-day holiday weekend and the following week, ODOT officials said in a statement Thursday afternoon.
Travelers should be prepared for dangerous winter conditions.
Use tripcheck.com/ to get the current road conditions.
–Virginia Barreda
3:15 p.m. Portland, Multnomah County issues emergency declarations
The agencies in the greater Portland area are busy preparing for next week of snow and cold temperatures.
At a press conference on Thursday, Multnomah County Chairwoman Deborah Kafoury declared the state of emergency for the county, which will last from Friday until January 3rd.
“This gives us the maximum opportunity to plan, sign contracts and seek additional resources over what could be a very long cold spell until the New Year,” said Kafoury.
“According to the latest forecasts, our region is facing an extended period of snow and freezing temperatures, starting this weekend and worsening next week. These are conditions that pose a high risk of danger for our neighbors who survive outside without a home. “
Similarly, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler declared the Portland emergency starting at 8 a.m. on Friday through December 31st.
Multnomah County and the City of Portland are said to be Open storm shelters on Christmas day.
– David Davis
Related:How you can help and get help in the thermal insulation houses in the Salem area
Noon, Thursday: Wet road conditions to the PDX
Leisure travelers can expect wet road conditions on Interstate 5 en route to Portland International Airport.
Meteorologist Daniel Hartsock of the National Weather Service in Portland said commuters traveling to the airport and south on Interstate 5 will see wet conditions.
Those making their way to the Oregon Coast can see some snow conditions at the summit of the Coastal Range.
Noon, Thursday: Salem Temps in their mid 40s, rain
According to meteorologist Daniel Hartsock of the National Weather Service Portland, temperatures in Salem will be in their mid-40s all Thursday with on and off showers.
The rain is expected to subside on Thursday evening before the next system approaches early Friday. Overnight temperatures will drop into the upper 30s, Hartsock said.
The showers will continue on Friday with temperatures in the lower 40s.
Mid-Willamette Valley residents could see a mixture of snow and rain on Christmas Day. Between one and three inches of snowfall is expected on Saturday night, Hartsock said.
Previous reporting:Snow in the Willamette Valley Christmas weekend
– Virginia Barreda
10:30 a.m. Thursday: PDX parking lot is filling up
Flights with PDX are usually on time so far. The parking lots are starting to fill up. The savings property is 85% occupied, the long-term garage 62% and the short-term garage 46%.
Airport officials recommend travelers to check their flights before leaving for the airport, as the forecasted weather could cause delays later on the weekend.
– Alia Bartrau
10 a.m. Thursday: Salem’s response to possible snow
Salem city officials said they are preparing teams and equipment for the possible snowfall next week.
“We scale our response to the amount and location of snow and ice accumulation,” said city spokeswoman Courtney Knox Busch.
City officials are prioritizing the hills to the west and south of Salem first, then the rest of the arterial roads, and then the collector and main residential roads, she said.
“We can’t plow dead ends or dead ends or roads with speed bumps,” she added.
– Zach Urness
7:30 a.m. Thursday: landslide closes River Road South
A section of River Road South is closed on Thursday morning after an early morning landslide.
Both directions of River Road are closed between Owens Street SE and Minto Island Road SE, the entrance to Minto-Brown Island Park, after the slide was reported around 2:30 a.m. by city officials, according to city officials.
Officials say the closure will remain in place until the slide area can be cleared and examined for further instability.
According to Courtney Knox Busch, a spokeswoman for the city of Salem, the amount of material that has slid down has been estimated at around 150 cubic yards, blocking the hard shoulder to the north and getting onto the trail to the south.
Croisan Creek Road S is the designated diversion route.
– David Davis
Thursday, 7 a.m .: Snow heaps on the Cascade passes
Travelers across the Oregon Cascade Range saw heavy snow Wednesday night and more is expected on Thursday and Friday.
About 15 cm of fresh snow was reported on the Santiam Pass summit on Thursday morning, and more are on the way.
– David Davis
Prepare for possible power outages
While utilities say crews will be ready to respond to outages if snow enters the area, officials say local residents should be prepared as any outage could clash with freezing temperatures.
Residents are encouraged to plan ahead with a downtime kit that includes:
- Flashlight or headlamp.
- Battery operated or hand crank radio and alarm clock or clock.
- Car charger for your mobile phone, laptop and / or tablet.
- 72-hour supply of ready-to-eat food and water.
- Extra blankets.
- Bottled water for humans and animals (if you depend on electricity to pump water).
—David David
How to travel safely in winter
You can find the latest information about the weather in the Portland National Weather Services on Facebook and Twitter Page, along with the detailed forecast page below wetter.gov/pqr/.
Check road conditions in advance and get real-time road reports from the Oregon Department of Transportation tripcheck.com.
Recommended equipment for vehicles includes winter tires or chains and emergency equipment, including:
- Extra gas.
- Cover.
- Shovel.
- Water (one gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and hygiene).
- Food (at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food).
- Battery operated radio or radio with hand crank and a NOAA weather radio with sound alarm.
- Flashlight.
- First aid kit.
- Extra batteries.
- Whistle (to signal help).
- Moist towels, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal hygiene).
- Wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities).
- Manual can opener (for groceries).
- Local maps.
- Cell phone with chargers and backup battery.
– Zach Urness
