Area residents deal with challenging road conditions, power outages and school closures due to overnight snowfall
Clark County residents are dealing with snowy weather conditions Monday morning, including power outages, school closures and challenging road conditions.
Clark Public Utilities reported there were still more than 16,000 customers without power as of 8:40 a.m. Monday. An additional 5,000-plus customers had recently had their power restored.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS) Portland office, the snowfall set a record for the latest recorded snow of more than a trace at the Portland International Airport. The previous record was March 25. The area snow accumulation was anywhere from a trace to one inch throughout the area and as much as 3-6 inches above 500-feet elevation. Individual reports from around Clark County indicated even more accumulation. The NWS reported the snow would begin to turn to rain by 10 a.m. in lowland areas.
The Washington State Department of Transportation asked Southwest Washington residents to delay travel in the early morning hours in the region until further notice because of the overnight snowfall.
WSDOT crews have been deployed to treat snowy and icy roads. Until conditions improve, travelers are asked to delay their travel plans as there are downed trees and collisions throughout the area. The Lewis and Clark Bridge, between Longview and Rainier, Oregon was closed to commercial truck traffic until further notice.
Real-time roadway and weather information is available 24/7 via the WSDOT mobile app or by following the Southwest Region Twitter account.
In Oregon, Highway 26 was still closed in both directions from I-405 in Portland to the Oregon Zoo at the time of this report.
Clark County-area school districts were closed Monday, including the Vancouver, Evergreen, Battle Ground, Camas, Hockinson, La Center, Ridgefield and Washougal school districts. All after school activities were also canceled.
City of Vancouver offices were scheduled to open at 10 a.m. Monday (two hours late). The city also reported Blandford Drive, between MacArthur and Evergreen boulevards, was closed due to tree limbs and debris blocking the street. The Vancouver Public Works crews were out last night and will be out today working to keep Vancouver streets safe and passable.
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