Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Oregon, January 10 to 29, 1998

A series of storms accompanied by very cold arctic air from Alaska and Canada brought widespread snow and then freezing rain to Southwest Washington and Northern Oregon from Saturday afternoon, January 10, through Wednesday afternoon, January 14. Up to three feet of snow accumulated in the Cascades and Columbia Gorge, with the heaviest accumulation in the Hood River Valley on the east end of the Gorge. Most of this snow fell from Saturday evening through Sunday. The Portland Metro area, especially the eastern portion near the Gorge, received up to 6 inches of snow Saturday night and Sunday, then a mixture of freezing rain, sleet, and snow fell intermittently Sunday through Tuesday morning. Light snow fell between Portland and Salem Saturday night and Sunday, and light freezing rain fell in the central and southern Willamette Valley and north coast Sunday and Sunday night. The Gorge and the eastern Portland metro areas received most of the problem weather.The event began when an arctic front brought very cold air from alaska into Washington state and northern Oregon, resulting in widespread snow. Then a warmer Pacific front moved inland Sunday, and snow turned to freezing rain except near the Gorge. Snow turned to freezing rain in the Gorge Monday, and persisted there and within the reach of strong east winds blowing out of the west end of the Gorge, while a warm front brought above freezing temperatures elsewhere.Trees and large tree limbs were knocked down over a large area, and there were widespread power outages. On Sunday and early Monday flights in and out of Portland International Airport were cancelled, and on Monday many businesses and schools in the Portland area were closed. On Sunday Portland mayor Vera Katz urged all citizens to stay home. The worst of the storm occurred in the Portland area during the weekend, which undoubtedly resulted in less traffic accidents and disruptions than had the storm's brunt occurred during the normal work week.There were three known fatalities attributed to the storm. A 33 year old man died when his car hit a tree and he was thrown from the vehicle. The accident occurred at about 10 PM January 10 near Eagle creek in in Clackamas county. A 41 year old man died about 1 PM January 12 when the rental van and trailer he was driving slid off I-5 near Wilsonville in Clackamas county. A 43 year old man was found dead from exposure in the back yard of his home in Astoria, in Clatsop county, on January 12. Numerous injuries ranging from minor to critical were attributed to slips on icy streets and sidewalks.