14-02-2025
Oregon winter storm: School canceled in Salem as ice and freezing rain forecast
Snow, ice and freezing rain are likely to continue impacting roads and schools until a widespread warmup midday Friday across the Willamette Valley, National Weather Service meteorologists said.
Temperatures don't appear likely to rise above freezing in a meaningful way until Friday, meaning roads could remain slick Friday morning, said meteorologist Colby Neuman.
Check back here to follow the latest updates.
Interstate 5 appeared snowy Friday morning on ODOT's traffic cameras and had few cars traveling. ODOT's TripCheck showed the freeway as mostly yellow or orange, typically meaning light or moderate traffic. One crash was causing delays in the northbound lanes about 3 miles north of the intersection with Highway 22.
A number of Willamette Valley schools, including Salem-Keizer Public Schools, have announced closures for Friday.
See our updated list, which includes university, state offices and courts for the latest closures.
In-person services at the Salem Public Library, Center 50+, Salem Housing Authority, the permit application center, public works operations, police lobby and records and municipal court will be closed on Friday. The Salem-Willamette Valley Airport is also closed to all aviation operations.
The city advised while main streets have been pre-treated with de-icer, drivers should use caution, particularly on neighborhood streets and parking areas.
All essential services, including police, fire, emergency response, street, water, and wastewater services will continue to operate regardless of weather conditions.
For life-threatening emergencies, call 9-1-1.
For all other emergencies, contact 503-588-6123
To report roadway, water, or sewer concerns, call the Public Works Dispatch Center at 503-588-6311
Other city services are available online through the City's website, In addition, the city is offering online and remote access for the following services:
Customer Service Center is available by calling 503-588-7272 or info@
Salem Public Library is available for customer calls from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 503-588-6315
Center 50+ is available by email at connect50plus@ For volunteers of Marion Polk Food Share's Meals on Wheels, out of an abundance of caution, meals will not be delivered on Thursday or Friday.
Permit Application Center is available at 503-588-6256 or baspac@
Cherriots suspended bus service Friday due to the winter weather conditions in the Mid-Willamette Valley.
Cherriots said it planned to resume services Saturday.
Updates will be provided on Cherriots' service alerts webpage and social media.
Salem Public Works spokesperson Courtney Bush said the city's street crews are 'fully deployed,' plowing and sanding the roads. She said they will remain on duty into Friday until roads are clear.
Deborah Topp, another spokesperson, said the city is plowing and sanding its primary and secondary routes, which can be viewed on its road conditions map. Road closures can also be seen.
The Salem Warming Network is activated during freezing temperatures and inclement weather.
Locations include Salem First Presbyterian Church, Seed Of Faith Christian Center International, Stayton Community Center, SOCC Santiam Outreach Community Center and ARCHES Woodburn Shelter.
The ARCHES Project will provide shuttle service from the ARCHES Day Center at 615 Commercial St. NE to local warming shelters. Return trips will be available the next morning, bringing individuals back to the ARCHES Day Center. The ARCHES Day Center will reopen at 7 a.m. the morning following a warming shelter activation.
With much of Oregon seeing some snow this week, residents should be prepared to deal with clearing it within 24 hours of a storm ending.
But this can be a hazardous activity and isn't safe for everyone.
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine reports that about 200,000 adults went to emergency rooms for snow shoveling accidents from 1990 to 2006, with more than 1,600 deaths.
Here's what to know and how to stay safe.
Oregonians may be waking up to bitter cold temperatures this week, but despite a commonly held belief, your car doesn't need to warm up on cold mornings, especially if it was manufactured after 1980, according to Firestone Complete Auto Care.
Before 1980, most cars had carburetors, a car part that regulates the air-fuel mixture in an engine.
Idling your engine could damage your engine's pistons, decrease your car's fuel efficiency and hurt the environment, according to Firestone.
So for your car's safety, cancel the warming-up-the-car routine.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon winter storm: Freezing rain, ice forecast in Willamette Valley
