The latest news stories and stories of interest in the Willamette Valley from the digital home of Southern Oregon, from Wynne Broadcasting’s WillametteValleyMagazine.com
Friday, December 23, 2022
Willamette Valley Weather
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY ISSUED: 8:55 AM DEC. 23, 2022 – NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR FREEZING RAIN IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Freezing rain. Additional ice accumulations of a light glaze. * WHERE...Central Coast Range of Western Oregon and South Willamette Valley. * WHEN...Until 1 PM PST this afternoon. * IMPACTS...Very slippery sidewalks, roads and bridges are likely. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Slow down and use caution while traveling. Prepare for possible power outages. For the latest road conditions call 5 1 1, or visit for Oregon: https://www.tripcheck.com
Dangerous Weather Conditions Throughout the Valley
Wintry weather is affecting much of Oregon — While the Umpqua Valley stayed in the mid to upper 30’s Thursday night, travelers didn’t have to go far north to begin encountering challenges as a strong winter storm hit parts of the Pacific Northwest.
The National Weather Service forecast up to a half-inch of ice for much of the Willamette Valley. Temperatures in Eugene and Portland got down to around 20 degrees Thursday night with icy conditions. Bulletins from the Oregon Department of Transportation said drivers should stay off the roadways. Some roads were closed throughout the Willamette Valley.
To the east, Interstate 84 remains closed as of last check from Troutdale to Hood River, due to the ice. The City of Eugene declared an Ice Emergency and asked motorists to stay home. Multnomah County and the City of Portland declared a State of Emergency due to the extremely cold weather.
Conditions are expected to moderate mid-day Friday in the Eugene area, transitioning from freezing rain to rain, with a high of around 50 degrees expected. It is a different story in Portland where freezing rain is expected through Friday night or early Saturday. Friday’s high is expected to only reach 32 degrees. By Saturday it’s back to rain for the metro area, with a high of around 40 degrees forecast.’
Most public offices and facilities in the City of Eugene will delay their opening until 10:00 a.m. Friday. The campus of the University of Oregon closed Thursday evening and will remain shuttered Friday. State offices in Lane County and the Portland area remain closed Friday. They will resume regular hours on Tuesday.
Current road conditions are available at www.tripcheck.com.
On Thursday evening, numerous accidents were reported throughout the Eugene area and officials were asking people to stay home if at all possible.
Adverse weather conditions including freezing rain have made the roadways in Lane County very unsafe. These dangerous conditions are expected to persist at least through the night. Multiple crashes were reported across the county.
Eugene’s 30th Avenue near the Spring Boulevard overpass has been closed while officials clean up following several crashes in the area overnight and Friday morning.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office is asking that unless absolutely necessary, drivers consider staying home until conditions improve.
Interstate 5 shut down in both directions near Eugene as the region continues to be battered by icy weather conditions Thursday evening.
According to TripCheck, all southbound and all northbound lanes of I-5 were closed five miles north of the Beltline Highway Intersection around 7:30 p.m. Traffic cameras in the area showed what appeared to be a jackknifed semi-truck on the highway, but officials have not released specific details on what led to the closure.
However, in a press release issued shortly after 9 p.m., the Lane County Sheriff’s Office said that the current weather conditions have made roadways “very unsafe.”
30th Avenue to close from Interstate 5 to Spring Boulevard
Lane Co. Government – 12/22/22 9:05 PM
Lane County Public Works is closing 30th Avenue in Eugene from Interstate 5 to Spring Boulevard, where County maintenance of the road begins.
“There are more than 20 cars off the road on that stretch of 30th Avenue right now,” said Lane County Road Maintenance Manager Orin Schumacher. “We can’t stress enough how dangerous the roads are tonight and how important it is that people stay home.”
Lane County crews will be working through the night; however, deicer and sand have limited effect during freezing rain and ice events. The best thing that people can do to stay safe tonight is to stay home.
Prairie Road closed at Irving Road due to crash
Lane Co. Government – 12/22/22 9:10 PM
Lane County Public Works is closing Prairie Road at Irving Road in Eugene following a multi-car crash and increasingly slick conditions. The road will remain closed until conditions improve.
“The best place to be right now is home and off the roads,” said Lane County Road Maintenance Manager Orin Schumacher. “We have crews out tonight and they are all reporting hazardous driving conditions – mostly thanks to a build up of ice on road surfaces.”
LTD and Ridesource services still delayed this morning
LTD suspended service on all routes on Thursday evening due to the weather. The agency estimates that bus service will resume at 11 a.m. Friday. Updates will be posted on the “Service Alerts” page on the LTD website.
For the latest road conditions, visit ODOT’s website: tripcheck.com
With the holidays, most schools and some government agencies were already scheduled to be closed Friday. Those previously-scheduled closures are not noted here.
The City of Eugene says significant ice accumulations overnight and freezing temperatures have allowed hazardous conditions to persist into this morning. People are still urged to stay home until conditions improve.
Many Eugene roads, especially neighborhood and side streets, remain covered in ice. Stopping and turning is especially challenging.
Crews are focused on priority routes, meaning Eugene’s busier streets.
30th Avenue remains closed between Hilyard and I-5. Last night, there were multiple stalled & rolled vehicles along that road.
More than a dozen flights in and out of Eugene Airport and 190 in and out of Portland International have been canceled so far today, according to the tracking website flightaware.com .
The City of Eugene is delaying the opening of public offices and facilities until 10 this morning. 9-1-1, Fire and Emergency Services will continue to operate as usual. This also means that Community Centers, Libraries, and administrative offices will open at 10 a.m.
Lane County Circuit Court has a 2 hour delay. Court will open at 10 a.m. People with 8:30 or 9:30 hearings should arrive at 10:00 a.m.
Willamalane facilities, administrative offices, camps, and programs will open at 10 a.m. Splash! will open at 11 a.m.
All Lane County Waste Management transfer sites, except for the Florence location, are operating on a 2 hour delay.
The Benton Area Transit morning runs for Coast to Valley Express and 99 Express are canceled this morning.
Icy roads plague all of Linn County this morning. Linn County Courthouse is closed. The Linn County Sheriff’s office is asking all drivers to stay home if at all possible.
Benton County offices are closed today, except for essential services.
Warming centers also will be open in Eugene at various libraries and community centers:
If temperatures drop below 32 degrees, which they are forecasted to do Thursday, ARCHES’ warming network will activate and warming shelters will open. Free transportation is available from the Day Center at 615 Commercial St. NE.
Downtown Library , 100 W. 10th Avenue
M-Th: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
F-Su: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Bethel Branch, 1990 Echo Hollow Road
M, W, Th, F, Sa: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Tu: 12-8 p.m.
Closed Sunday.
Sheldon Branch,1566 Coburg Road
M, W, Th, F, Sa: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Tu: 12-8 p.m.
Closed Sunday.
Community Centers:
- Amazon CC is open until 5 p.m. M-F
- Campbell CC is open until 7 p.m. on Mondays and then 4:30 T-F
- Hilyard CC is open 9 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. M-F
- Peterson Barn CC is 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. M-F
- Sheldon CC is open 8 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. M-F
Springfield Issues Press Release in Response to Icy Conditions
The City of Springfield will delay opening City Hall, Springfield Public Library and Springfield Municipal Court until noon on Friday, December 23 due to continued icy road conditions, the city announced in a press release.
The city also provided an update on the Operations Division’s response to the overnight freezing rain.
The City’s Operations Division has been hard at work last night and very early this morning sanding priority 1 streets. The division continues to have 3 sanders out, staff out assessing conditions, and the City tree crew on standby. City crews applied deicer to priority 1 streets and hills prior to the freezing rain. However, deicer only works so well as it becomes diluted as more precipitation falls. When the ice became too much, Operations staff switched to sanding. They will continue sanding until temperatures warm up and conditions improve then they will shift to clean up.
To see the city’s snow and ice priorities map, click here.
The Springfield Police Department reports responding to 81 calls for service including 19 vehicle crashes and six hit-and-run crashes between 2:00 p.m. Thursday and 8:00 a.m. Friday. SPD shut down the exit ramp from I-105 westbound onto Q Street for a few hours Thursday after multiple hazards and crashes.
The city says an initial count shows that Eugene Springfield Fire responded to more than 50 crashes between Thursday evening and Friday morning. The agency used “a variety of additional resources, such as a 2-person squad unit and brush engines, to make travels as safe as possible and meet the needs of the community.”
Operation Winter Survival Stockpile Still Needs Your Help
Lane County Health & Human Services, along with the First Christian Church of Eugene and Cahoots, would like to thank the many community members who have contributed to Operation Winter Survival Stockpile. To date, over 3,000 items have been donated and over 200 households served. There remains, however, a need for tents, sleeping bags, and blankets.
“We are humbled by the tremendous response to Operation Winter Survival Stockpile,” said Lane County Human Services Program Coordinator, Maria Cortez. “Despite the many donations, supplies that are essential to sleeping outside this time of the year are still in short supply. We need as many folks to help as possible.“
Every winter, individuals in our community who are unhoused experience terrible weather conditions and life-threatening temperatures. To address this, Lane County Health & Human Services, in partnership with the First Christian Church of Eugene’s Helping Hearts program and Cahoots, have launched Operation Winter Survival Stockpile.
Operation Winter Survival Stockpile is a community-driven effort to create a stockpile through donations of clothing and other supplies that will help those in our community who are unhoused to stay safe and warm this winter.
As a reminder, items can be dropped off Monday through Thursday between 10 am and 2 pm at the First Christian Church, located at 1166 Oak St. in downtown Eugene. (541) 344-1425.
Items can also be purchased on Amazon and sent to First Christian Church at 1166 Oak St. Eugene OR 97402 – Amazon Wish List https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2XR33GS1ULV8Z?ref_=wl_share
Distribution of items will be prioritized to homeless outreach providers such as CAHOOTS that come into direct contact with individuals who are unhoused and unsheltered.
Extreme Winter Weather Conditions Impact Oregon
The freezing rain, sleet and snow led to crashes on slick roadways, prompting several major closures across the region. A few highways remain closed Friday morning with extreme winter conditions including Highway 101 and I-84, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation.
As of 6 a.m. here are the highways that are impacted
- I-84 is closed one mile east of Troutdale, between mileposts 18-62
- US 101 is closed between mileposts 0 and 4
Interstate 84 has shut down in both directions due to hazardous conditions, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation.
The major interstate that runs east-west across Oregon is closed between Troutdale and Hood River. ODOT said in a tweet that the closure from exit 17 to exit 64 in the Columbia River Gorge will be in effect “until conditions improve.”
Based on the latest weather forecast, that could be well into Friday or later.
Other major road closures reported as of Thursday night:
- Interstate 5 in both directions north of Eugene at milepost 200, according to ODOT
- U.S. 101 five miles south of Neskowin at milepost 102, according to ODOT
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning until 4 p.m. Friday, with a mix of snow and freezing rain. The region could get up an additional one-tenth of an inch of ice at elevations above 2,500 feet and from one-tenth to three-tenths of an inch below 2,000 feet.
Travelers should check TripCheck for the latest road conditions updates
Salem officials say power outages and tree damage are likely, due to the ice, and travel could be difficult. Severe weather also is expected in Portland and throughout Oregon.
Oregon to issue $71 million in emergency SNAP benefits in January
Most Oregonians who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will receive emergency allotments in January.
- Most Oregonians who receive SNAP benefits will continue to receive temporarily increased emergency food benefits in January
- Approximately 421,000 SNAP households will receive approximately $71 million in extra food benefits in addition to their regular SNAP benefits
- These emergency benefits are a temporary support that Oregon can provide because of the federal COVID-19 public health emergency
- Find resources to meet your basic needs: Dial 2-1-1, or text your zip code to 898-211, www.211info.org
- Oregon Department of Human Services COVID-19 help center
The federal government has approved emergency allotments every month since March 2020. This gives SNAP recipients additional support during the COVID-19 pandemic. These emergency benefits are a temporary support that Oregon can provide because of the federal COVID-19 public health emergency.
Because the federal government approved these emergency benefits for January, Oregon will also be able to issue them in February 2023. However, the emergency benefits are expected to end when the federal public health emergency ends.
In January, approximately 421,000 SNAP households will receive approximately $71 million in extra food benefits in addition to their regular SNAP benefits.
“We know that many rely on these additional emergency food benefits to get enough healthy food for themselves and their families,” said Jana McLellan, interim director of the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Self-Sufficiency Programs. “The holiday season can also bring additional stress and worry for many Oregonians who are still struggling to meet their basic needs and we encourage them to contact our partners at 211, the Oregon Food Bank and their local Community Action Agency for support during this difficult time.”
Current SNAP households will receive emergency allotments on Jan. 11, 2023. Emergency allotments will be issued Jan. 31, 2023 or Feb. 2, 2023 for households who did not receive benefits in the first monthly issuance.
SNAP recipients do not have to take any action to receive these supplemental benefits as they will be issued directly on their EBT cards.
More information about emergency allotments is available at https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/ASSISTANCE/FOOD-BENEFITS/Pages/Emergency-Allotments.aspx.
Questions about your SNAP benefits should be directed to the ONE Customer Service Center at 1-800-699-9075.
If your household receives SNAP and your income or the number of people in your household has changed, it could impact your benefits. It is important to make sure ODHS has the most up-to-date information.
You can report any changes to your income or household in many ways:
- Online at: ONE.Oregon.gov
- By mail at: ONE Customer Service Center, PO Box 14015, Salem, OR 97309
- By fax at: 503-378-5628
- By phone at: 1-800-699-9075 or TTY 711
Resources to help meet basic needs
- Find a food pantry: foodfinder.oregonfoodbank.org
- Learn about government programs and community resources for older adults and people with disabilities: Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon at 1-855-673-2372 or www.adrcoforegon.org.
- Dial 2-1-1, or text your zip code to 898-211, www.211info.org
- Find local resources and support by contacting your local Community Action Agency: www.caporegon.org/find-services/
- Oregon Department of Human Services COVID-19 help center
Administered by ODHS, SNAP is a federal program that provides food assistance to approximately 1 million eligible, low-income families and individuals in Oregon, including many older adults and people with disabilities. Oregonians in need can apply for benefits, including SNAP, child care, cash assistance and Medicaid. Learn more at https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/benefits/Pages/index.aspx . For local resources in your area, such as food or shelter, please call 2-1-1 or reach out to the state’s Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) at 1-855-ORE-ADRC or 1-855-673-2372.
Oregon State Parks Will Have Staff And Volunteers At 17 Whale Watching Sites For Five Days Starting Wednesday 12/28
For the first time in two years, Oregon State Parks will have staff and volunteers at 17 locations along the Oregon coast for its “Whale Watch Week” starting Wednesday 12/28 through Sunday 1/1.
Park rangers and volunteers will be at the official sites – although experienced whale watchers can use any unobstructed view, of course — along the Oregon Coast for five days to help people spot gray whales migrating south through Oregon’s waters. The trained volunteers will be stationed at most of the sites to answer questions, share information and to help spot whales.
A map of volunteer-staffed sites is available on the Oregon State Parks website.
“We really enjoy getting folks out to the coast for Whale Watch Week,” said park ranger Peter McBride in a news release from Oregon State Parks. “It’s something that Oregon State Parks has been doing for more than 40 years now, and we’re really glad to be able to bring it back in person.”
The yearly event was canceled during the pandemic.
Over the next several weeks, an estimated 18,000 gray whales are expected to swim through Oregon’s waters during their annual migration south to warm calving lagoons near Baja, Mexico. The end of December is the peak time for their migration with roughly 30 whales passing by per hour.
Spring watching begins in late March as the gray whales return north on their way towards Alaska. The first surge swims past Oregon around the end of March and lasts until June.
In Depoe Bay, the Whale Watching Center will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday during Whale Watch Week. Visitors can experience interactive whale exhibits and panoramic ocean views.
Here are the locations in north Lane and Lincoln counties where volunteers will be available to help catch a glimpse of the whales:
- Heceta Head Lighthouse
- Cape Perpetua Turnout
- Yachats State Park
- Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint
- Depoe Bay, whale watching center
- Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint
- Cape Foulweather
Whale spotting tips: There are four things to be on the lookout for when whale watching, according to Oregon State Parks:
The blow: Gray whales usually surface every 20 seconds as they swim but will often stay under for 3 to 5 minutes when they are eating. If they have been down for 5 minutes, they usually blow five times when they surface to replenish their oxygen supply. The blow, or spout, shoots nearly 12 feet high and expels 400 liters of air in a single blast. The whales take a few breaths at the surface then dive again. If they are frightened, they can stay down for 30 minutes, hiding on the bottom or traveling great distances.
The breach: The ultimate in whale sightings is a breach. This is when a whale launches itself out of the water in a spectacular show of power and grace. Scientists aren’t sure why whales breach. Possibly they do it to remove parasites, communicate with each other, or maybe it’s just for fun. Gray whales aren’t known for breaching nearly as often as Humpback whales, but young gray whales seem to be the most common breachers along the Oregon Coast.
The spyhop: Whales are intelligent and curious and are often seen “spyhopping,” or lifting their heads above the surface of the water. They like to rise out of the water to get a better sense of their surroundings. During the summer, gray whales have been known to spyhop regularly, especially when local tour boats are near.
The dive: A deep dive, also known as sounding or fluking, happens when a whale lifts its tail flukes out of the water. This helps propel the whale downward at a steep angle to the bottom, where they feed on zooplankton and amphipods. After the flukes disappear under the water, the turbulence of the dive will cause a circle of smooth water, known as a fluke-print.
FOR MORE INFO: https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=v.feature-article&articleId=304
Oregon’s Population Dropped In 2022 For The First Time In Decades According To U.S. Census Bureau
Oregon’s population dropped in 2022 for the first time in decades, according to new estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The agency figures Oregon lost about 16,000 residents in the year leading up to July 1, 2022, representing about 0.4% of the state’s population. That puts Oregon at No. 6 among the fastest-shrinking U.S. states, both in percentage and numeric declines.
The state now has about 4.24 million residents, according to the Census Bureau estimates. New York state, which lost 0.9% of its population, was the fastest-shrinking state. Florida, with a 1.9% increase, was the fastest-growing. The U.S. population as a whole grew by 0.4%, or 1.26 million people.
A population decline would be a dramatic reversal of fortunes for Oregon, which hasn’t seen its population drop since the early 1980s. After strong population increases in the last three decades — the most recent of which won Oregon its sixth congressional seat — forecasters expected Oregon’s growth to slow, but not reverse. MORE INFO: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/OR
Red Cross Cascades Offers 15 Ways to Help Stay Safe During Winter Storms
Winter weather poses unique challenges to people faced with bitter cold, snow, and ice. The American Red Cross has 15 steps you should take to stay safe if you are in the path of winter storms.
HEAT YOUR HOME SAFELY
It’s that time of year when many people resort to space heaters and other sources to keep their homes warm. Home heating is the second leading cause of fires in this country. To reduce the risk of heating related fires, the Red Cross recommends these steps (More home fire safety information available here):
1. All heaters need space. Keep children, pets and things that can burn (paper, matches, bedding, furniture, clothing, carpets, and rugs) at least three feet away from heating equipment.
2. If you must use a space heater, place it on a level, hard and nonflammable surface (such as ceramic tile floor), not on rugs, carpets or near bedding or drapes. Plug power cords directly into outlets – never into an extension cord.
3. Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended, and use a glass or metal fire screen to keep fire and embers in the fireplace.
4. Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.
5. Turn off portable space heaters every time you leave the room or go to sleep.
STAY SAFE DURING WINTER WEATHER
6. Wear layers of clothing, a hat, mittens and waterproof, insulated boots.
7. Be careful when tackling strenuous tasks like shoveling snow in cold temperatures.
8. Check on your neighbors, especially elderly people living alone, people with disabilities and children.
9. Bring pets indoors. If they can’t come inside, make sure they have enough shelter to keep them warm and that they can get to unfrozen water.
10. Watch for hypothermia and frostbite. Hypothermia symptoms include confusion, dizziness, exhaustion, and severe shivering. Frostbite symptoms include numbness, flushed gray, white, blue or yellow skin discoloration, numbness, or waxy feeling skin.
WINTER TRAVEL SAFETY
Stay off the road, if possible, during severe weather. If you must drive in winter weather, follow these tips:
11. Make sure everyone has their seat belts on and give your full attention to the road.
12. Don’t follow other vehicles too closely. Sudden stops are difficult on snowy roadways.
13. Don’t use cruise control when driving in winter weather.
14. Don’t pass snow plows.
15. Ramps, bridges and overpasses freeze before roadways.
DOWNLOAD APPS
People can download the Red Cross Emergency App for instant access to weather alerts for their area and where loved ones live. Expert medical guidance and a hospital locator are included in the First Aid App in case travelers encounter any mishaps. Both apps are available to download for free in app stores or at redcross.org/apps
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
