Oregon

Ice storm warning issued for Eugene, much of Oregon’s Willamette Valley

Published

10 months ago

February 12, 2025

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Ice storm warning issued for Eugene, much of Oregon’s Willamette Valley

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.

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Oregon

Tale of the tape: Previewing Oregon’s Class 3A football state title game between Cascade Christian and Burns

Published

16 hours ago

November 28, 2025

Press Room

Tale of the tape: Previewing Oregon’s Class 3A football state title game between Cascade Christian and Burns

We’re at the final week of Oregon high school football and the Class 3A state tournament all comes down to No. 1 Cascade Christian (12-0) and No. 3 Burns (11-1).

Here is a breakdown of Saturday’s Class 3A state championship game, which will take place at 4:30 p.m. at Summit High School in Bend.

Last meeting: Burns won 46-19 in Week 3 of the 2014 season.

Quick fact: Cascade Christian is vying to become the first team to give up zero points en route to a state title since Regis won the Class A championship in 1973.

About Burns

Road to the final: Def. Phoenix 54-7 (first round), Vale 32-20 (quarterfinals), Banks 36-31 (semifinals)

Last state championship: 2024 (second)

Last state final: 2024 (fifth appearance)

Coach: Matt Bruck, third season (28-14)

Offensive leaders: QB Jack Wright, sr. (144-246-3-2445, 40 TDs pass; 88-491-12 rush); RB Tommy Winn, sr. (139-943-9); WR Coltin Miller, sr. (79-1505-21); WR Preston Hill, sr. (31-471-7); TE Cannon Kemper, jr. (19-342-8)

Defensive leaders: LB Jasper SkunkCap, jr. (73 tackles, 15 for loss); DL Joe Weil, sr. (68 tackles, 28 for loss, 11.5 sacks); LB Kemper (69 tackles, 10.5 for loss, 5.5 sacks); LB Colter Handley, soph. (56 tackles, 5 for loss); DL Ben Chamberlain, jr. (13 tackles for loss)

Lighthearted moment: Several weeks ago, the team played a game of “blob tag,” which requires teammates to remain attached by holding hands or interlocking arms, and as they tag players and attach them to the blob, it breaks off to form new blobs. Who started as the blob? Two of their biggest linemen — Weil and classmate Wesley Graham — trying to chase down their quicker teammates, which Bruck said was a funny sight.

Secret weapon: Weil also rated a mention as the leader of the Hilanders’ offensive and defensive lines.

“On the offensive side of the ball, they create gaps for Tommy and Jack to run through as well as protect Jack,” Challengers coach Jon Gettman said. “On defense, they just shut down a Banks team that had run the ball really well all season. They are a very physical, well-coached team that puts a lot of pressure on you.”

About Cascade Christian

Road to the final: Def. Pleasant Hill 68-0 (first round), North Valley 48-0 (quarterfinals), Gervais 36-0 (semifinals)

Last state championship: 2023 (fifth)

Last state final: 2023 (eighth appearance)

Coach: Jon Gettman, 16th season (155-32)

Offensive leaders: QB Deryk Farmer, sr. (89-147-4-1556, 16 TDs pass; 64-682-11 rush); RB Bryson Walker, jr. (89-986-27); WR Caleb Scaglione, sr. (38-563-7); WR Mikey Covey, soph. (11-353-2); WR Caleb Parker, sr. (15-335-3)

Defensive leaders: LB Covey (63 tackles, 14 for loss, 3.5 sacks, 11 hurries); LB Wyatt Hurley, jr. (59 tackles, 6 for loss); LB Walker (58 tackles); DE Alex Fiannaca, sr. (53 tackles, 11.5 for loss); LB Seth Scaglione, jr. (44 tackles, 10 for loss, 4.5 sacks); DE Austin Cook, jr. (9.5 tackles for loss)

Lighthearted moment: One night before the season kicked off, Gettman invited all the players and their fathers to gather for a night of worship and prayer along with a talk from guest speaker Brandon Boice, a former Oregon State player. It was such a success that Gettman held another session during their Week 7 bye.

“We spend so much time and effort on the gridiron,” Gettman said. “But the greatest blessing is seeing these young men grow up and be leaders in the community. So, taking a break from the season and just being able to speak to the weightier things of life is what I’m thankful for.”

Secret weapon: Bruck pointed to their big three of Farmer, Walker and Caleb Scaglione, “but everything has to run through their quarterback,” he said. “But really, you have to pay equal attention to their trio.”

— René Ferrán is a freelance reporter for The Oregonian/Oregon Live. René grew up in Portland and has written about high school sports in the Pacific Northwest since 1993, with his work featured at the Idaho Press Tribune, Tri-City Herald, Seattle Times, Tacoma News Tribune, The Columbian and High School on SI. He can be reached at rferran.oregonianhssports@gmail.com

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Oregon State women can’t keep up with No. 17 Vanderbilt in second loss of season

Published

1 day ago

November 27, 2025

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Oregon State women can’t keep up with No. 17 Vanderbilt in second loss of season

Oregon State women’s basketball failed to keep pace with a dynamic offensive team Thursday night, as No. 17 Vanderbilt ran away from OSU, 88-66, in the Paradise Jam Tournament.

Playing their first game in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Beavers (5-2) struggled against a high-pressure Vanderbilt defense, committing 21 turnovers.

The Commodores (7-0) got a game-high 35 points from superstar sophomore Mikayla Blakes and a career-high 17 from Justin Pissott. OSU got 15 points apiece from Jenna Villa and Ally Schimel, and 14 from Lizzy Williamson.

OSU fell behind 8-0 early, facing intense defensive pressure from the Commodores. Blakes was a force from the opening whistle, scoring 21 first half points.

The Beavers trailed, 26-13, after one, as Vanderbilt hit five three-pointers in the opening quarter alone.

But aggressive offensive play from Villa and Schimel cut the Commodores’ lead down to two in the second quarter.

With 2:30 left in the first half, a three-pointer from Cloe Vecina gave OSU the lead, 33-32. But Vanderbilt finished the half strong and took a 43-38 lead at the break thanks to the relentless scoring of Blakes and Pissott.

Vanderbilt carried their strong shooting into the third quarter, going on a 7-0 run to get it to 50-38.

The full-court press started to wear OSU down in the third, and Blakes took full advantage with easy buckets in transition. The Commodores extended their lead to 58-42 midway through the period.

Vanderbilt kept its foot on the gas pedal and didn’t look back, as Scott Rueck’s team committed 11 turnovers in the third quarter alone, getting out-scored 30-9. The Commodores went on a 21-5 run and took a 73-47 lead into the fourth.

Next game: Oregon State (5-2) vs. Virginia Tech (5-2)

When: Saturday, Nov. 29
Time: 11:00 a.m. PT
Where: St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (Paradise Jam tournament)
Stream: ESPN+

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Thousands of Americans advised to avoid outdoors in California, Oregon

Published

2 days ago

November 27, 2025

Press Room

Thousands of Americans advised to avoid outdoors in California, Oregon

Thousands of residents across parts of California and Oregon have been advised to stay indoors where possible on Thursday due to concerns over high levels of air pollution.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s AirNow map shows that areas including Cromberg, Portola, and Sattley in California, and La Pine in Oregon face “unhealthy” levels of air quality as on 03.10 a.m. ET on Thursday.

Why It Matters

Unhealthy levels of air pollution in the atmosphere can affect everyone, but vulnerable people, especially the elderly, children, and those with existing heart or lung conditions, can be particularly affected.

Exposure to poor air can lead to eye, throat, and nose irritation, coughing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath.

When pollution is in the “unhealthy” range, the EPA advises that sensitive groups avoid long or intense outdoor activities and consider moving or rescheduling them indoors. The EPA also recommends the remainder of the population to reduce long or intense activities, and to take more breaks during outdoor activities.

This is a developing story. More to follow.

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