• The National Weather Service has issued an ice storm warning for parts of Oregon due to freezing rain and snow.
• Utility companies are preparing for potential power outages and advising residents to take safety precautions.
• The Oregon Department of Transportation is urging drivers to stay home if possible and to be prepared for hazardous road conditions.
• A cold weather advisory is also in effect, with temperatures expected to feel as low as 10 to 20 degrees.

The National Weather Service has issued an ice storm warning for the southern and central Willamette Valley for freezing rain and snow that could disrupt work, school and travel on Thursday and Friday.

Power outages appeared increasingly likely, with local officials in and around Eugene issuing a variety of warnings and alerts as they geared up for potential disruptions.

The warning was set for 10 p.m. Wednesday to 4 a.m. Friday. While the greatest impact was expected between Salem and Portland, alerts have been sounding off across Lane County as well.

“Significant icing expected,” wrote the National Weather Service. “Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous.”

The National Weather Service in Portland forecast upward of a quarter- to half-inch of ice in the Corvallis-Albany area and up to a quarter-inch in the Salem, Eugene and Portland areas.

Eugene to Salem: Winter storm watch issued

The ice storm warning runs from roughly Cottage Grove up to Oregon City in the Willamette Valley, and out into the Coast Range and Cascade Foothills.

In general, the more northerly areas around Salem were expected to see the greatest impact. It was expected to get warmer sooner in Eugene.

“Winter precipitation is expected to begin Wednesday night, starting in the south and pushing northward,” NWS wrote. “Precipitation will initially begin as mixed freezing rain and snow Wednesday night, transitioning over primarily to freezing rain on Thursday. Significant ice accumulations will be possible, impacting the Thursday morning commute.

“Precipitation will transition over to primarily freezing rain by Thursday midday. Due to areas of freezing rain, power outages are possible.”

Travel could become extremely hazardous if the ice does show up.

“Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous,” NWS wrote.

Eugene-Springfield utility providers prepare

Eugene Water & Electric Board said crews were “preparing for any possible outages” Wednesday.

Forecasts say the storm will be milder than the 2024 ice storm when a total of 38,000 EWEB customers lost power at some point. EWEB advised community members to use caution in the case of ice damage to equipment or downed power lines.

“Always assume the line is energized and stay at least 50 feet away,” EWEB stated in a news release Wednesday. “If the downed line is across a street or sidewalk, call 911. Remember to stop and observe to survive.”

EWEB’s outage map can be found at www.eweb.org/outages-and-safety/power-outages/power-outage-map.

Springfield Utility Board also recorded preparations and preventative measures following the 2024 storm.

According to its After Ice Storm Action Report, SUB staff have undergone the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Incident Command Structure training in the case of another devastating storm. SUB reported 88 poles damaged and 75% of its customers had lost power at some point during the storm.

Information on SUB outages can be found at www.subutil.com/outages.

Oregon Department of Transportation braces for ice

Oregon Department of Transportation stated its crews have been working around the clock in preparation for icy weather. Starting Wednesday evening, ODOT began pretreating roads with deicer.

“We are prepared for whatever conditions happen this week and beyond and our crews will work around the clock to make the roads as safe as possible,” ODOT stated via email. “It’s crucial to remember that freezing rain poses the most significant challenge for road crews. Falling trees, limbs and downed powerlines further complicate our response efforts and can significantly impact our response times.”

How to travel in snowy or icy conditions if needed

First, ODOT recommends residents to stay home if they don’t need to go out in icy weather. ODOT advised commuters to expect the unexpected, as road conditions could change throughout the day.

Bridges and overpasses are the most dangerous parts of the road in the winter, according to ODOT, as they are the first to freeze and last to thaw.

ODOT provided additional tips on staying safe while driving:

• Check conditions at TripCheck.com before heading out for road closures and conditions.
• Slow down and increase following distance. Bridges and shaded areas freeze first.
• Ensure your vehicle is winter-ready — tires, brakes and wipers in good condition.
• Stay visible by using headlights and clearing snow from windows.
• Follow roadside message signs for important updates.
• Use public transit if possible, and check schedules in advance.
• Never pass snowplows on the right — give them space to work.
• If you abandon your vehicle, it will be towed. Stay with your car if safe to do so.

Cold weather advisory issued for Willamette Valley

A cold weather advisory remained in place across the Willamette Valley into Thursday for temperatures that feel as cold as 10 to 20 degrees.

“Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures,” NWS said.

Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 18 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors and BlueSky at oregonoutdoors.bsky.social.

Miranda Cyr reports on education for The Register-Guard. You can contact her at mcyr@registerguard.com or find her on Twitter @mirandabcyr.