With 4 or more inches of Possible snow in and around Portland For the holiday weekend, public transport companies point out their online snow plow trackers for people who want to know when or if their road or route will be cleared.

You can get road information here:

Oregon Department of Transportation: www.tripcheck.com warns of closed roads and provides cameras on key routes across the state.

Multnomah County: multco.us/roads/snow-and-ice-plan

Portland: pdx.maps.arcgis.com

Current extended forecasts from National weather service show strong chances of sub-par temperatures with lows near the teens and 20s and lots of moisture getting into the metropolitan area by the end of the weekend. Forecast models show a snow probability of up to 90% by Sunday and a 50-60% probability that 10 or more inches of snow will appear within 48 hours of the end of this weekend and the beginning of next week.

Depending on where you live, the responsibility for removing predicted snow from the roads can fall on the state, counties, or cities.

Major roads in Oregon are under the Oregon Department of Transportation, including I-5, I-205, I-405, I-84, and US 30 and US 26. The department also maintains Oregon Highways 6, 99, 213, and others.

During the winter, ODOT gives priority to high-traffic corridors, including all interstates, US 26 west of Portland and OR 217, said spokesman Don Hamilton.

There may be delays in plowing state roads this season, Hamilton warned due to staff shortages.

The department had been working through the fall to fill vacant snow removal jobs in the tight labor market, with around 100 vacancies currently across the country, he said. The state has around 1,100 snowplow driver places when it is fully occupied.

ODOT may need to relocate resources to Portland from other parts of the state if the weather calls for it, Hamilton said.

Multnomah County and Portland transportation officials said they do not have a staff shortage and expect it not to be a factor in dealing with snow-covered roads.

Multnomah County online map shows which roads are plowed and which may remain snow-covered – including some areas that have caused problems in the past and have now been upgraded from priority 2 roads to priority 1 roads. The values ​​depend on the volume of traffic on the road and other factors.

Past storms have shown that some roads are more difficult to reach or clear due to ejected cars, buses, trucks, or other weather-related blockages. Even if a road is on the priority list, conditions can prevent the plows from reaching it.

The updated map of the county includes these routes that have been moved to priority 1:

  • Northwest Newberry Road from US 30 to the Portland city limits
  • Sauvie Island Bridge and Northwest Gillihan Road from the bridge to TriMet Park-and-Ride near the bridge
  • Southeast Stark Street from Stark Street Bridge in Troutdale to approximately Southeast 257th Drive
  • Haines Road between Larch Mountain and Brower Road near Corbett

Northwest Cornelius Pass Road is now under state jurisdiction after being relocated from Multnomah County last year.

The Portland Bureau of Transportation’s online tool shows residents not only which streets are likely to be plowed, but also exactly where the plows are in real time.

Priority will be given to streets that are most important to rescue workers, hospitals, schools, and public transportation, as well as downtown and other business districts. The online map also shows which roads are being treated with salt – typically hilly roads or those at higher elevations.

As the weekend approaches and forecasters have a clearer consensus on when, where and how much snow can fall, be sure to keep an eye on both the updated weather forecast and the predictions from the road authorities before you set off. Your first stop should be www.TripCheck.com.

As a reminder, the Portland City Code requires property owners, renters, and businesses to clear sidewalks and driveways as soon as possible after a blizzard. The Portland Bureau of Transportation does not remove snow or ice from sidewalks. Read more here: portland.gov/transportation/weather