Maybe FuFu called it correctly.
The Oregon Zoo’s hedgehog Thursday morning predicted that winter was, at long last, coming to an end. Even as she did, though, a winter storm watch loomed over the Portland area, saying snow and freezing rain were on the way.
But by Thursday afternoon, Fufu’s prediction came true: Forecasters say it looks like the winter storm won’t be as bad as initially expected.
The National Weather Service in Portland downgraded the winter storm watch to an advisory Thursday afternoon, after no sign of snow or freezing rain showed in the metro area.
That doesn’t mean Portland is completely in the clear. Some freezing rain and light snow started falling in parts of the metro area early Thursday evening. Freezing rain will continue overnight and into Friday morning, making the morning commute slick and icy, the weather service said.
The good news, though: Temperatures should rise above freezing during the day Friday, making the newly accumulated ice short-lived.
Additionally, the weather service initially forecasted that freezing rain and 1 to 2 inches of snow would fall in the metro area. But meteorologists updated their predictions for Thursday to be a dry, albeit very windy, day.
“Any impacts will probably be limited to the morning commute (Friday), and it will get markedly better as the day goes on,” meteorologist Jeremiah Pyle said. “I think by the evening commute it won’t be that bad for most people.”
Wind advisories are in effect for the Portland area until 4 a.m. Friday. Winds reached up to 51 miles per hour at the Portland International Airport on Thursday morning, the weather service said. Thursday’s low temperature was about 35 degrees, but wind chill made it feel about 10 degrees colder, according to the weather service.
The high winds will continue Thursday night, the weather service said. Some light snow could fall, but less than an inch will accumulate before the wintery precipitation turns to freezing rain, the weather service said.
Less than a quarter inch of ice is expected to accumulate Friday, the weather service predicted. By Friday night, the freezing rain will turn to rain throughout the metro area, the weather service said.
More ice will accumulate in the east metro area, particularly near the Columbia River east of the Portland International Airport, the weather service said. Up to half an inch of ice could accumulate in Troutdale and Gresham, the weather service said.
The ice in the east county could also take longer to melt, Pyle said. There, freezing rain could continue throughout the day Friday and possibly into Friday night, he said. By Saturday, though, most of the ice should have melted away, he said.
— Samantha Matsumoto
smatsumoto@oregonian.com
503-294-4001
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