Oregon
Ice storm warning issued for Eugene, much of Oregon’s Willamette Valley
5 tips for safe winter driving
Todd Harris, president of the Pro Drive Racing School, gives tips to avoid trouble on the road this winter.
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.
Oregon
Former corrections officer sentenced in major Oregon poaching case spanning multiple counties
UMATILLA COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — A yearslong investigation by the Oregon State Police (OSP), in addition to the Fish and Wildlife Division, has resulted in significant penalties for an Umatilla man accused of illegally killing wildlife across Oregon, in what prosecutors describe as one of the most damaging serial poaching cases tied to a single individual.
Christopher George Matson, 48, was sentenced in two separate cases in June following an investigation that began in 2024, when authorities received information he was unlawfully taking big game animals. Matson is a former Oregon Department of Corrections officer.
In February 2025, investigators served a search warrant and seized multiple big game animals and firearms as evidence. In total, 67 criminal charges were referred for prosecution, spanning multiple counties and including allegations such as unlawful take and possession of black bear with the aid of bait, unlawful take of buck deer and antlerless elk, and hunting during prohibited hours. Additional charges included falsely applying for tags, loaning or borrowing big game tags, and unlawful possession of silencers and a short-barreled rifle.
The case was prosecuted by the Oregon Department of Justice’s Wildlife Anti-Poaching Resource Prosecutor.
On June 18, 2026, Matson pleaded guilty in Grant County Circuit Court to seven counts, including unlawful take of buck deer and black bear. He was sentenced to 18 months of probation, a lifetime hunting license revocation, 300 hours of community service, forfeiture of firearms and seized property, and a $52,500 fine payable to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Less than two weeks later, on June 29, Matson pleaded guilty in Umatilla County Circuit Court to additional charges, including unlawful possession of a short-barreled rifle, unlawful possession of a silencer, unlawful possession of multiple wildlife, and unlawful take of mule deer. In that case, he was sentenced to 24 months of probation, a lifetime hunting ban, 300 hours of community service to run concurrently, forfeiture of property, and a $62,000 fine.
Combined, the penalties include probation, a lifetime revocation of hunting privileges, 300 hours of community service and more than $114,000 in fines.
“This is another example of serial poaching which rises to the level of felony conduct based solely on the repeated poaching conduct and impact of one individual on Oregon’s game mammals,” said Jay Hall, the Oregon Department of Justice’s Wildlife Anti-Poaching Resource Prosecutor. “The conduct across the several counties amounts to one of the highest damage amounts done to Oregon wildlife by any singular actor.”
Oregon State Police credited the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for assisting with interviews and evidence collection, along with multiple witnesses who came forward during the investigation.
WILSONVILLE, Ore. (CNN) – Under the cover of the night sky, a bear took a jaunt around an Oregon town. Its presumed search for a snack was interrupted by a police officer’s bright spotlight.
For the next few minutes, the officer followed the bear as it sauntered down the road, even making sure the animal didn’t dart into the road.
Eventually, video shows the officer corralled the black bear and escorted it to a nearby river where it would be safer.
Copyright 2026 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — The summer solstice, which marks the astronomical beginning of Summer, is also considered the longest day of the year– meaning daytime hours are longer while nighttime hours are shorter.
WEATHER | Latest Storm Tracker 2 Forecast
This is because the summer solstice marks when the Northern Hemisphere is closest to the sun.
In Washington and Oregon, we will lose about 50 minutes by the end of July. But in the southern United States, that change is reduced.
For example, in Florida, they will lose about 20 minutes by the end of the month.
As Earth continues to orbit around the sun while rotating on its axis, the Northern Hemisphere will eventually be faced away from the sun as we approach winter solstice on December 21, 2026.
While we are losing daylight, we will not be losing any sunshine. High temperatures on Sunday will end in the lower 80s and Tuesday’s high could be closer to 90.
-
Science3 minutes ago14 propositions that could remake California taxes, housing, healthcare and elections
-
Sports8 minutes agoLakers lose Rui Hachimura, who signs two-year deal with the Clippers
-
World17 minutes agoHungary could vote to oust president as early as next week
-
New York2 hours agoHow a Museum Security Guard and Artist Lives on $51,000 in Parkchester
-
Los Angeles, Ca2 hours agoHeat advisory issued as Southern California temps near triple digits this week
-
Detroit, MI2 hours agoDetroit Battery Safety Provider Reaches to the Skies with Med Hawk
-
San Francisco, CA3 hours agoA Locals-Approved Modern Guide to Fisherman’s Wharf: Seafood, Beer Gardens + Iconic Bay Views
-
Dallas, TX3 hours agoNew glitzy Houston steakhouse Juliet opens next to Delilah this summer
