PHOTOS: Snow slows highway traffic in the Willamette Valley
PORTLAND, Ore. () — In case you needed another reason to stay home Thursday, the ongoing snowstorm is slowing traffic along major highways in the Portland and Salem metropolitan areas.
The Oregon Department of Transportation's TripCheck map estimates that areas could see delays of 20 minutes to 2 hours depending on the route. Multiple crashes have occurred since the snow started to fall Thursday morning.
LIVE BLOG: Winter storm kicks off throughout Portland metro area
ODOT spokesperson Mindy McCartt told KOIN that there's no way to accurately estimate how many accidents have occurred since the snowstorm began. However, drivers should check ODOT's live traffic map for traffic conditions before leaving the house.
'We are telling drivers to stay safe and avoid losing control,' McCartt said. 'We urge everyone to slow down — reducing speed by at least 10 mph can make a big difference in keeping you on the road. Crews are also watching for falling trees, limbs, and downed power lines. These further complicate our response efforts and can significantly impact our traffic.'
Snow, ice ramps up Thursday around Portland
McCartt further cautioned against leaving your car on the side of the road on your way home, as any abandoned vehicles will be towed. This is another reason to consider taking public transport, or staying home as the storm passes.
Until then, ODOT workers are pulling 12-hour shifts across most, if not all, of the state until conditions improve.
KOIN will continue to monitor the latest traffic information as road conditions are forecast to go from snow to icy between Thursday night and Friday morning.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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