Winter

Friends found the couple deceased shortly before midnight. Their bodies were buried by an avalanche in Happy Valley, a popular winter recreation area near Broken Top Mountain in the Central Cascades mountain range. Search and rescue crews recovered the bodies Tuesday morning.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that its search and rescue unit had recovered two bodies west of Bend in Happy Valley, near Broken Top peak. The sheriff’s office said the two people were caught in an avalanche while recreating in the area.

Multnomah County employees and others in the Portland metro area have been hard at work providing resources and making sure folks have a place to stay safe and warm.

Winter weather advistories are still in effect in Eastern Oregon, but the National Weather Service says rain and warmer temperatures should return west of the Cascades on Friday afternoon.

Florists in the Portland-area are planning for delayed Valentine's Day deliveries and lost sales due to snowy weather.

Photos and posts, sent in from people across Oregon on social media, have helped forecasters understand the winter storm.

Snow closed most districts in Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington on Thursday. But not Estacada — thanks to an online learning protocol the district started pre-COVID.

The northern Willamette Valley, including Portland and Vancouver, is under a winter storm warning. An ice storm warning is in place for the central and southern valley.

If Oregon’s recent cold snap has you shivering, and the ice and snow in the forecast seem unusual, take solace. The state climatologist feels it too – even when he’s looking at data that seems to contradict the way he feels.

Several Oregon school districts, including Portland Public Schools, announced they will be closed Thursday.