Weather

Hundreds Of Thousands Still Without Power In Wake Of Storm

Oregon Public Broadcasting | By OPB Staff

Published February 15, 2021 at 5:57 PM PST

A downed tree in the Alameda neighborhood at NE 23rd Ave. and NE Ridgewood Dr. in Northeast Portland, February 15, 2021.

The snow and ice is melting from the weekend storm, but as of Monday evening, utilities reported hundreds of thousands of Oregon customers were still without power as a result of downed power lines.

Portland General Electric confirmed Monday evening that about 30% of its overall customer base was without power — amounting to 282,000 homes and businesses.

Company spokeswoman Andrea Platt said PGE had twice as many crews working on the outages than ever before, drawing on added help from people who arrived from Washington, Montana, Nevada and California to help.

Even as the weather thawed, fresh outages were reported – most likely from saturated trees and limbs coming down on power lines, Platt said. Some outages could take days to restore.

Platt described the job of restoring service as a “puzzle,” given that the 5,000 downed wires are not the only problem. Substations, feeders and transmission lines from power plants have been damaged, meaning a complex task of linking them together again.

Pacific Power reported as of 5 p.m. Monday almost 29,000 of its customers in the Willamette Valley without power. The utility said 300 crew members are on duty to restore electricity.

Meanwhile, at least one building has collapsed in the aftermath of the storm. In Troutdale, Oregon, the roof partially collapsed at a Safeway on SW Cherry Park Road. Multnomah County deputies say the roof likely buckled under the weight of snow and ice. No one was injured.

Public transportation is slowly returning, but service is limited.

Normal weather patterns should return later this week, with Portland-area highs in the mid-40s.

In the mountains, a winter storm warning is in effect until 4 p.m. Tuesday. Snow was heavy in the Cascades, with as much as a foot or two of new snow forecast there, and in the Northern Blue Mountains.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown issued a statement on Monday:

“Last night’s weather continued to create widespread outages throughout the Willamette Valley, with more than 330,000 Oregonians without power as of this morning. While utility crews are making progress, the weather is leading to new outages faster than the pace of restoration, with the tri-county area now being the hardest hit.

“The state of emergency I declared on Saturday will ensure that all necessary state resources are available on the ground to help Oregonians impacted by this winter storm.”

Portland International Airport reports dozens of canceled flights again Monday. Check with your airline if you are scheduled for a flight today.

In Western Washington, a cold front brought rain to most lowland locations and snow in the mountains on Monday, according to the National Weather Service. Most areas are dealing with a slushy mess as the snow, a foot deep across the region, began to melt with the warming temperatures.

On Monday evening, Interstate 90 east of Seattle was closed in both directions from North Bend to Ellensburg.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport was reporting most flights operating on normal schedules.

Storm resources

Stay warm: maintains an updated list of warming shelters across Oregon, including hours of operation and eligibility.

Know before you go: The Oregon Department of Transportation’s map features road camera, road closure information and traffic conditions on state-operated roads (think: highways) across the state. The Washington State Department of Transportation offers a similar map with travel alerts across the state.

Prepare before you travel: ODOT also provides a helpful list of tips to keep in mind before setting out for winter travel.

Check your list: The Washington State Department of Transportation has some helpful checklists for winter driving, including what to carry in your car.

Large tree fell in Eastmoreland in Portland on Monday.

A large tree blocks Bybee Road which connects Eastmoreland and Sellwood in Portland on Monday. Nearly every block in Woodstock and Eastmoreland has tree limbs and power lines down as thousands remained without power.

Nearly every block in Woodstock and Eastmoreland in Portland has tree limbs and power lines down as thousands remained without power on Monday.

Lower Macleay Park still featured a snowy trail along Balch Creek on Monday.

Balch Creek is full and muddy on Monday after the snow and ice storm.

Charlie, no last name given, works to remove limbs from a large oak in front of his home in Southwest Portland, Feb. 13, 2021. — A Southwest Portland resident works to remove limbs from a large oak in front of his home in Southwest Portland, Feb. 13, 2021. Tens of thousands of people remained without power in the Pacific Northwest after a winter storm blanketed the region with ice and snow and made travel treacherous.

Kurt Nistler shovels his driveway in Southwest Portland, Feb. 13, 2021.

Snow covered homes near Rock Creek Trail in Hillsboro, Feb. 13, 2021.

Dan Forester takes his cross country skis to the roadway, in Southwest Portland, Feb. 13, 2021.

Katie Brown, ambushes her brother Sam with a shovel of snow in Beaverton, Feb 13, 2021.

Daisy, 13, doesn't look like she's thrilled by her sleigh ride, as she is towed by her owner Christy McCardle, in Southwest Portland, Feb. 13, 2021.

A hummingbird heads towards a feeder in Southwest Portland, Feb. 13, 2021. Hummingbirds can endure cold snaps as long as they have fresh, and unfrozen food available.

A duck snow sculpture is left atop a mailbox in Southwest Portland, Feb. 13, 2021.

Piknik Park food cart pod in Sellwood, Feb 13, 2021.

Freezing rain encapsulates a camellia bloom in SE Portland, Feb 13, 2021.

Trees snapped under the weight of ice and snow and gusting winds in West Linn, near Salamo Rd. at Cascade Summit, Feb 13, 2021.

A snowplow clears eastbound Rosa Parks Way towards Vancouver Blvd., Portland, Feb 13, 2021. Snow and ice from the recent storm has made for hazardous driving conditions in the Portland metro area.

An eyeless snowman in Beaverton, Feb 13, 2021.

A trio pushes a car spinning out near the Sunset Transit Center in Portland, Feb. 12, 2021. The National Weather Service announced one inch of snowfall at its Portland office as of early Friday morning. Accumulation totals vary across the region.

Terry Waitrovich, left, and his wife Mary Faupel use hiking poles for balance as the walk along Barnes Rd. in Portland, Feb. 12, 2021. The pair hiked to their COVID-19 vaccination appointment instead of driving in the snow.

Door Dash driver Nalik Jackson of Portland struggles to put on snow chains in Beaverton, Feb. 12, 2021, so he can complete a food delivery. The National Weather Service announced one inch of snowfall at its Portland office as of early Friday morning.

A pedestrian braces against the wind and snow as they walk along Barnes Rd. in Portland, Feb. 12, 2021. The National Weather Service announced one inch of snowfall at its Portland office as of early Friday morning. Accumulation totals vary across the region.

A jogger runs through the snow across the Burnside Bridge in Portland, Feb. 12, 2021.

Kurt Spies pushes his son seven-month-old son Luke along a path in Portland, Feb. 12, 2021. Portlanders got the dusting of snow they were promised from a series of Pacific storms. The National Weather Service announced one inch of snowfall at its Portland office as of early Friday morning. Accumulation totals vary across the region.

Downtown Portland in a dusting of snow, Feb. 12, 2021.

Odin, 1, an American Akita, bounces in the fresh snowfall near Prineville, which has received several inches of snow in the past 24 hours.

A person walks to their car in the Mountain View neighborhood of Bend, Ore., Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, after a day's snowfall.

A person hikes up Pilot Butte in Bend, Ore., Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, after a day's snowfall.

The corner of N. Mississippi Ave and N. Failing St., looking north in Portland, Feb. 12, 2021. The National Weather Service announced one inch of snowfall at its Portland office as of early Friday morning. Accumulation totals vary across the region.

Black bamboo stalks along Johnson Creek are coated in ice in Milwaukie, Feb 12, 2021. The National Weather Service announced one inch of snowfall at its Portland office as of early Friday morning. Accumulation totals vary across the region.

A view of the I-5 looking northbound in Portland, Feb. 12, 2021. The National Weather Service announced one inch of snowfall at its Portland office as of early Friday morning. Accumulation totals vary across the region.

Looking through an iced over window in Milwaukie, Feb 12, 2021. The National Weather Service said the next storm will arrive Friday night and bring a high possibility of significant freezing rain in the Coast Range, Willapa Hills, the Central Willamette Valley and perhaps across the southern Portland metro.

Apples remaining on a tree are covered in ice and snow, in Milwaukie, Feb 12, 2021. The National Weather Service announced one inch of snowfall at its Portland office as of early Friday morning. Accumulation totals vary across the region.

Sledding at Overlook Park in Portland, Feb. 12, 2021. The National Weather Service announced one inch of snowfall at its Portland office as of early Friday morning. Accumulation totals vary across the region.

A person wearing a unicorn onesie walks west on Rosa Parks Way over I-5 in Portland, Feb 12, 2021. The National Weather Service said the next storm will arrive Friday night and bring a high possibility of significant freezing rain in the Coast Range, Willapa Hills, the Central Willamette Valley and perhaps across the southern Portland metro.

A porch table serves as an unofficial snow measurement in Southeast Portland, Feb 12, 2021. The National Weather Service said the next storm will arrive Friday night and bring a high possibility of significant freezing rain in the Coast Range, Willapa Hills, the Central Willamette Valley and perhaps across the southern Portland metro.

A large tree snapped, taking out some power lines at NE 50th Ave and NE Alameda St. in Portland, Feb 13, 2021.

A fashionable snowman, in Hillsboro, Feb. 13, 2021.

Children playing on a snow covered Northeast 18th Ave. in Portland, Feb. 13, 2021.

Sledders at Clinton City Park near Franklin High School, Feb. 13, 2021.