A view of the Deschutes River near First Street rapids in Bend, after a winter storm dumped over a foot of snow overnight on February 25, 2019.
Emily Cureton / OPB
Forecasters say there's still a possibility for snow early this upcoming week in the Portland metro area and surrounding regions.
Though forecasts for the valley floor are still up in the air, the Cascade mountain range and other higher elevation areas are preparing for significant snow fall.
The Oregon Department of Transportation said in a news release Saturday that travelers should avoid Mount Hood until conditions improve due to heavy snow and high winds.
ODOT has been periodically closing sections of Oregon Highway 35 and may close other roads as crews are working to keep up with heavy snowfall.
Mount Hood Meadows tweeted Saturday afternoon that high winds forced the ski resort to close early.
"Lifts are scheduled for Sunday, but multi-week programs are postponed," the tweet reads. "Sunday's Park & Ride from Portland [is] also canceled."
High winds have suspended operations for today. Night operations as well. Lifts are scheduled for Sunday, but multi-week (SnoBlasters, TrailBlazers and HighSchool) programs are postponed. Sunday's Park & Ride from Portland also cancelled. #mothernaturewins pic.twitter.com/qkXoAJ7bCA
— Mt Hood Meadows (@HoodMeadows) January 11, 2020
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Friday also said people traveling to the Cascade Range for recreation should use caution, especially people planning on backcountry skiing and snowshoeing.
“Ski, snowshoe and snowmobile trails are already becoming hard to distinguish in some areas, which make it difficult to navigate,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release.
It advises any backcountry travelers to have proper gear and food for 24 hours as well as fully charged cell phones.