Mt. Hood communities slammed with snow, Portland begins to see light dusting

CLACKAMAS COUNTY Ore. (KPTV) - Monday brought nonstop snow in the Cascades and light snow fall in areas of Portland.

According to ODOT’s Trip Check website, highways at higher elevations required chains and studded tires. This includes highways around Mt. Hood and near the mountain’s ski areas.

Those who came up to Mt. Hood for activities in the snow Monday say they are getting their activities done early because they feel driving could become very difficult.

SEE ALSO: Nike asks Portland for security partnership to reopen MLK Blvd store

“There was a little bit of sliding if you just stayed still, but as heavy as the snow is coming down, I feel it’ll get worse,” said Annika Hatt, who is visiting family from Texas.

Daniela Yaziciyan and her dog were driving from Bend to Portland. Yaziciyan says driving became challenging once she passed Warm Springs on her way from Bend.

“Once I got into the mountain, I was slipping and sliding,” she said. “I did have to like 25 miles per hour, and people were passing me.”

In Portland’s West Hills, snow began falling late Monday.

Residents were wary about what driving conditions would be like in the morning because they say when temperatures dip even just a little below freezing, driving conditions on the steeper hills can get tricky.

“Four inches of snow. If it’s ten below that’s a totally different driving condition than if it’s just a hair below freezing and you get a little dusting of snow and there’s ice everywhere, that’s what makes the hills really difficult,” says Forest Hills resident Shawn McFall.

Follow KPTV’s First Alert Weather for the latest updates on conditions in the Metro Area.

Copyright 2023 KPTV-KPDX. All rights reserved.