A snow plow works on clearing State Street in downtown Hood River, Ore., Dec. 17.
Courtesy of Hood River County Emergency Management
Heavy snow is falling in the Columbia Gorge starting around Cascade Locks.
Emergency officials say the snow is causing very difficult driving conditions on major highways and local roads. Most schools are closed in Hood River County. Chains are required on Highway 35 and officials say I-84 is slippery.
"All of our roads are being plowed by our public works' crews, but there's kind of no way to keep up with it," said Hood River County Emergency Manager Barbara Ayers.
"So if there's any chance that people can stay off the roads, we would advise them to do that. Both in the flat areas where we're seeing a lot of snow accumulation and any time you have to turn, or you're driving on a slope, we're seeing a lot of spun-out cars."
She said people are enjoying the snow, including kids who are making snow angels and having snowball fights. But she said if you're not in the Gorge area — don't come out to play in the snow.
Snow piled up quickly on the roads of Hood River, Dec. 17.
Courtesy of Hood River County
"Please don't come right now, and wait until the storm abates. Definitely not safe driving conditions," Ayers said. "I would not at all recommend heading up to — Mount Hood would probably kill me for saying this — but I wouldn't head up there right now. It's got to be heavy, heavy snow, and treacherous driving conditions."
Ayers says skiers should try the mountain in the next few days, when the roads should be safer.
There's a winter storm warning in place for cities in the central Gorge, and the National Weather Service is forecasting the snow will turn to freezing rain and then transition to rain. Add that to the snow, and flooding becomes a possibility starting Thursday night.
