With Washington’s winter predicted to be colder and wetter than usual, conditions are aligning for another possible ice storm in Clark County, experts say.
Monday night reached a low of 24 degrees, frosting Vancouver and sparking concerns of an unusually cold winter. Monday was 7 degrees colder than the average recorded temperature for Dec. 2, according to the National Weather Service.
Monday night, tying with March 6, was the coldest since the January ice storm that left thousands stuck in their homes without power or heat. That event was unusual for the Pacific Northwest, said Daniel Hartsock, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Portland.
“We don’t usually stay that cold for that long,” he said.
An ice storm similar to January’s is not guaranteed this winter, Hartsock said, but the weather service’s Climate Prediction Center forecasts a cold and wet winter.
Temperatures plunged well below freezing for nearly a week in January, catching many off guard.
“I think a lot of the impacts were more severe than were expected and lasted longer than expected,” Hartsock said.
Roads were slicked in thick layers of ice. Those unwilling to face the dangerous conditions were trapped in their homes.
Trees smashed onto roads, downing power lines. Efforts to keep electricity flowing cost Clark Public Utilities about $26 million in January.
Nearly 25,000 people lost power between Jan. 12 and 14, according to Clark Public Utilities, and 200 homes lost power for prolonged periods. Many were left without heat and dealt with bursting pipes.
People streamed into warming shelters hosted by churches participating in the Severe Weather Response program. Many seeking shelter had frostbite, pastors said. Without enough shelter for everyone who needed it during the ice storm, the church shelters ran over their capacity.
In October, the group of churches and nonprofits made a plea for another location to replace Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, which cannot shelter its usual 15 people this winter after the building flooded.
In response, the city of Vancouver stepped up, said Adam Kravitz, executive director of Outsiders Inn, which helps operate the winter shelter program.
“The city was willing to be brave and think outside the box,” Kravitz said. “We should be able to make this work.”
The city of Vancouver plans to open select city-owned buildings for both emergency and severe weather shelters starting this month, spokeswoman Laura Shepard said. The shelters will stay open through March.
The city plans to share the locations of those shelters next week, Shepard said. Kravitz said the additional shelter will add 30 to 45 more spots for people — more than available in the past.
“We’re super hopeful about the new city spaces,” Kravitz said. “We’re looking forward to saving some lives this winter.”
