Administrators closed schools, organizers canceled events and road workers started bracing for the worst Thursday as forecasters predicted a storm of snow and ice would hit Clark County later Thursday.
The National Weather Service in Portland on Wednesday issued a storm warning for an unusually strong winter storm that will bring a mix of snow and freezing rain to the Portland-Vancouver metro area Thursday.
Forecasters said snow is expected to start late Thursday morning and continue through much of the day.
Snow amounts of 1 to 3 inches are possible in Vancouver, the weather service said. Eastern Clark County might see as much as 3 to 6 inches.
That snow is expected to switch in the afternoon to freezing rain, which likely will continue until midnight.
The weather service also predicted possible high winds through Thursday afternoon. Forecasters expect consistent breezy weather with wind speeds of 13 to 22 mph and gusts as high as 34 mph. East of the metro area, gusts might reach speeds of 45 to 55 mph, and in the western Columbia River Gorge, gusts could reach 60 to 80 mph.
Area school districts were monitoring forecast reports in anticipation of changed schedules Thursday, and many chose to play it safe.
As of Wednesday night, Evergreen, Vancouver, Battle Ground, La Center, Ridgefield and Hockinson district schools are closed Thursday, and their after-school activities are canceled. Washougal, Woodland, Camas and Green Mountain school districts also canceled classes.
Gardner School of Arts & Sciences, St. Joseph Catholic School, King’s Way Christian School, Cornerstone Academy, Columbia Adventist Academy, Meadow Glade Christian Elementary and Firm Foundation Christian School are closed Thursday.
Local road crews have been spraying de-icer on county roadways in response to the past few days of low temperatures, and ahead of Thursday’s expected snow and ice.
County crews have been spraying salt brine on county thoroughfares, according to the Clark County Public Works Department, and workers will be on hand with salt for the roads and gravel for sidewalks.
“We are fully stocked with salt brine and sanding gravel,” said Scott Wilson, Clark County’s road maintenance division manager, in a news release from the county. “Our trucks are chained up and fitted with plows and sanders. We are ready to help our residents get through this expected storm.”
Weather-related problems such as fallen trees or limbs blocking county roads can be reported to Public Works at 360-397-2446. Downed power lines should be reported to Clark Public Utilities at 360-992-8000.
“We’ve had our guys working on trucks all week, getting them ready to go,” said Mike Gartman, road maintenance supervisor for the Washington State Department of Transportation in the area. “We are staffed up, ready for the onset of weather when it comes in.”
WSDOT and the Washington State Patrol are asking drivers to plan ahead and make a candid assessment of their ability to drive in icy weather before heading out.
“We’re asking everyone to be prepared before they travel tomorrow,” Trooper Will Finn said Wednesday.
Throw a blanket in the vehicle, he said, and check that all fluid levels are right, the fuel tank is full and other equipment is in working order.
“You never know what type of impacts you’re going to face once you get out there on the highway,” he said, adding that with the expected volume of crashes, it will take time for help to get to stranded drivers, stalled vehicles or other non-emergency problems out on the road.
Also, he said, slow down.
“Speed limits are set for ideal conditions, so we don’t want to be doing 70 (mph) out during the snow storm, or during the ice and freezing rain,” he said. “Create some following distance between you and the other people.”
Among other weather impacts, the city of Washougal postponed Thursday’s planned Christmas parade to 6 p.m. Monday. The Downtown Camas Association canceled Thursday’s Holiday Sip & Shop event. The YWCA Clark County office is also closed, but its 24-hour hotline, at 800-695-0167, remains open.
Council for the Homeless Executive Director Andy Silver said many area homeless shelters are full, but organizers were working to find additional open spots ahead of the storm.
Share, the nonprofit organization operating homeless shelters in Clark County, opened up additional shelter space for Wednesday night and Thursday.
The city of Vancouver offered money for Share to open and staff a severe weather shelter at the day center at Friends of the Carpenter — something that’s never been done before.
“It’s obviously not ideal, but at least it would be warmer than being outside,” said Amy Reynolds, deputy director of Share.
Staff will be talking with people camping around Share House in downtown Vancouver to see if they want to stay inside at the day center in west Vancouver, Reynolds said. The day center will shelter up to 16 people.
Additionally, one of Share’s year-round family shelters is taking in 14 more people, and the other family shelter is taking in an additional seven women. More men will be able to stay at Share House.
The Council for the Homeless is trying to find a church willing to be a severe weather shelter.
People in need of emergency shelter can call the housing hotline at 360-695-9677.
C-Tran said their buses are on snow routes and that riders should be ready for significant impacts to the bus service.
The agency said Routes 157, 177 and 190 will be canceled Thursday.
Affected Route 157 riders can take Route 199 from the 99th Street Transit Center to Portland. Once in Portland, take any eastbound MAX to the Lloyd District.
Instead of Route 177, riders can take Route 164 from the Fisher’s Landing Transit Center to downtown Portland.
Route 47 will not run between Battle Ground and Yacolt today. The rest of the route will continue as normal.
Those looking for a ride on Route 190 can start from the 99th Street Transit Center and take another Express route to downtown Portland. Once in Portland, TriMet’s Line 8 or the Portland Streetcar and the aerial tram from South Waterfront Avenue will provide service to Marquam Hill.
The C-Tran Connector service also is canceled Thursday. The bus service warned that other routes might see delays. Routes 2, 6, 9, 19, 32 and 47 may detour to snow routes. Check www.c-tran.com.
Patty Hastings contributed to this story.
