Freezing rain flirts with metro area

Nearly all local schools were preparing to open two hours late today as the area flirts with another bout of freezing rain.

Monday, the National Weather Service in Portland issued a freezing rain advisory for the metro area in effect through 10 a.m. today.

TV reports this morning showed that most of the ice was at higher elevations and the Columbia River Gorge. Roads were reported to be slick in the Battle Ground area, too. At least one traffic accident was reported, at Northeast 219th Street and 72nd Avenue.

At Pearson Field in Vancouver, the temperature reached 33 degrees by 4 a.m. Light rain was falling.

Major highways and both freeways appeared to be bare and wet, according to webcams.

C-Tran reported it was operating its normal schedule. Its Connector service to north Clark County might be delayed due to icy road conditions.

Today’s high temperature for Vancouver is predicted to be 35 degrees.

The forecast calls for overnight lows at or below freezing for the rest of the week, which would keep freezing rain on the menu for several more days.