UPDATE (2:25 p.m. PT) – Cars stuck on Interstate 84 from earlier crashes are now clear, and transportation crews are finally heading out to clear snow and ice.
Interstate 84 remains closed between Hood River and Cascade Locks, and as of Wednesday afternoon, there is no estimate for when it will reopen.
Cars were stuck on the interstate for hours Tuesday night because of earlier crashes involving semitrailers without chains. That kept transportation crews with plows, salt and de-icer from reaching problem areas on the road.
"We've got hard-packed ice and snow," said Don Hamilton, with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). "We've got very, very difficult weather conditions in the Gorge."
More winter weather is in the forecast, and Hamilton says ODOT has a lot of options in preperation for more rain, snow, high wind and freezing rain Thursday morning.
"We can close the Gorge, and that's a possibility," he said.
Drivers are urged to take alternate routes in the meantime.
I-84 WB remains closed between Hood River and Cascade Locks (milepost 64 – 44/ Exits 64 and 44). All WB vehicles from milepost 46-54 are cleared. Teams working on clearing vehicles from milepost 49-54 now. There is no estimate to how long this will take.
— OregonDOT (@OregonDOT) February 13, 2019
"We're trying to bring in heavy tow trucks so that we can get the big trucks that are stalled and pull them out of there," he said. "And then we've got to start bringing in some graders to break up the ice pack on that road."
"We hope to have everyone out of there as soon as we can. This has been a very difficult situation for a lot of people up there," Hamilton said. "It's been awful for them, and we've got to do what we can to get them cleared."
The lack of required chains along with the sudden bursts of winter weather have caused trouble for the area, Hamilton said.
"We've been using salt and some de-icer in the Gorge too, but with some of these quick, unexpected micro-storms, it makes it a big problem," Hamilton said. "The Gorge is throwing all of its weird, evil winter schemes at us right now. We're doing everything we can to keep up with them."
Other parts of the state are struggling with winter's impacts on roadways.
Weather warnings are in effect for areas including Klamath and western Lake counties, as well as the higher-elevation areas of Douglas, Jackson, eastern Curry and Josephine counties.
The Siskiyou summit and mountains and southern Oregon Cascades are also under a winter weather warning for Wednesday morning. Drivers are advised to check their planned routes before heading out.