The National Weather Service issued weather warnings and watches throughout the region Monday, from winter storm warnings to coastal wind advisories.
Fallen trees and power lines have led to outages throughout the region. At one point Monday morning, more than 100,000 customers in Oregon and Southwest Washington were without power. By noon, that number had dropped to about 60,000.
Several school districts across Northern Oregon and Southwest Washington are closed or started on 2-hour delays. The state’s largest school district, Portland Public Schools, closed for the day.
In the Portland metro area, traffic officials warned Monday morning that wet, heavy snow was bringing down trees and causing difficult travel conditions. A little after 8 a.m., the Oregon Department of Transportation closed U.S. Highway 26 between Oregon 217 and Interstate 405 in both directions, with multiple trees down near the Oregon Zoo exit. Drivers were asked to avoid the area. By the start of the afternoon rush hour commute, westbound lanes of Highway 26 were open, but eastbound lanes remained closed.
A plow works W. Burnside Rd. in Portland, April 11, 2022. The snowfall amount varied widely across the metro area.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
A downed tree limb landed on the windshield of a vehicle in west Portland, April 11, 2022.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Justin Alvernaz checks on a vehicle abandoned on W. Burnside Rd. in Portland, April 11, 2022.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Abandoned vehicles on W. Burnside Rd. in Portland, April 11, 2022.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
A downed power line on W. Burnside Rd., in Portland, April 11, 2022.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
An abandoned vehicle is stuck in the ditch, along with a FedEx truck and a city bus, on W. Burnside Rd. in Portland, April 11, 2022.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Downed lines along Barnes Rd. in Portland, April 11, 2022.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Falled trees, stuck cars and downed power lines led to the closure of W. Burnside Rd. at NW Skyline Blvd, April 11, 2022.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Fallen trees cover a bus stop on Barnes Rd. in Portland, April 11, 2022. The snowfall amount varied widely across the city.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Tree damage can be see throughout the city, like this split tree in Northeast Portland, April 11, 2022.
Rebecca Morris / OPB
Spring cherry blossoms are coated in snow in inner Northeast Portland, April 11, 2022.
Jessica Martin / OPB
A few tire tracks and footprints lead down a hill in the Bethany area, April 11, 2022.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
A snowplow turns around on W. Burnside Rd. at NW Skyline Blvd., in Portland, April 11, 2022.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
An abandoned vehicle is stuck in the ditch, along with a FedEx truck and a city bus, on W. Burnside Rd. in Portland, April 11, 2022.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
A pedestrian walks along Barnes Rd. in Portland, April 11, 2022.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Street lights cast a glow on the blanket of wet snow on Northeast 20th Avenue in Portland on Monday, April 11, 2022. Snow fell on much of the Pacific Northwest, leading to school closures and delays as well as traffic accidents and power outages.
Jeff Thompson / OPB
Snow and fog in Portland’s West Hills, April 11, 2022.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Trees heavy with snow hang over wires along W. Burnside Ave. in Portland, April 11, 2022.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Tree damage can be see throughout the city, like this split tree in Northeast Portland, April 11, 2022.
Rebecca Morris / OPB
Lilacs are coated in snow in inner Northeast Portland, April 11, 2022.
Jessica Martin / OPB
Enough snow for a petite snowman out in Hillsdale area, April 11, 2022.
Lauren Elkanich / OPB
The snow level was expected to rise Monday afternoon as temperatures move into the 40s. Snow showers could return for a brief period below a thousand feet Tuesday morning.
Meteorologists say this is the first time in 82 years of record-keeping that measurable snow has fallen at Portland International Airport this late in the year.
A winter storm warning is in effect through Tuesday morning in the Northern Oregon Cascades, where up to 24 inches of snow could accumulate as the storm passes through.
Winter weather advisories are also in place in Eastern Oregon’s Baker, Harney and Malheur counties. Along the Coast Range, several inches of snow could fall throughout the day and wind gusts of up to 40 mph are expected.
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