A number of Clark County school districts are closing in anticipation of wild wintry weather expected to hit later today.
The National Weather Service has reported that freezing rain has already begun in Troutdale, Ore., near the mouth of the Columbia River Gorge. Icing is expected to spread over the next couple of hours into Camas and Washougal.
The Camas, La Center, Washougal and Green Mountain school districts announced that all classes would be canceled today. The Woodland School District announced that Woodland elementary schools will operate with an 11:30 a.m. early release and no meal delivery.
The Battle Ground School District announced that it had canceled classes at Amboy Middle and Yacolt Primary schools , with no meals in Amboy and Yacolt.
Get the lates school closures information at www.columbian.com/school-closures.
Just before 8:30 a.m., the National Weather Service announced a winter storm warning was in effect and would remain in effect until noon Friday for Clark County and the rest of the Portland metro area, predicting heavy mixed precipitation.
Forecasters say the area may experience light freezing rain as cold air moves in from the east before transitioning to snow in areas north and east of Portland and mixed precipitation to the west and south.
Total snow accumulations of 2 to 6 inches are forecast, along with ice accumulations of around 0.2 inch, with strong east winds gusting as high as 55 mph near the Gorge and along north-south bridges.
Another round of wintry precipitation is expected to spread across the region from Friday night into Saturday, with temperatures remaining near or below freezing until sometime on Sunday.
The storm warning cautioned that overpasses and exposed bridges tend to be cooler and are more likely to provide challenging driving conditions, especially as the weather deteriorates this afternoon as cold air spills out of the Gorge.
If travel is necessary, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency, the warning said.
