Winter Storm in Lower Columbia, Oregon

A moisture-laden Pacific storm rode over cold air pouring out of the Columbia River Gorge, resulting in widespread moderate to heavy freezing rain in NW Oregon. Accumulations ranged from one quarter to one half inch, with heaviest amounts near the Columbia River Gorge. The brunt of the storm occurred January 15 into the early part of January 16, but the storm lasted two additional days in the Gorge. The Central and Southern Willamette Valley had the least amount of freezing rain, and it turned to liquid rain by the afternoon of January 15. The storm forced closure of bridges around the Portland metropolitan area and Interstate 5 was closed from Wilsonville to south of Salem for 3 hours on the 15th. The storm also resulted in cancellation of 225 flights from Portland International Airport, 5000 power outages, and over 200 motor vehicle accidents. Numerous trees were toppled by ice accumulation, mainly near the Gorge. A woman of unknown age was killed when she was hit by a car after jumping out of her automobile when it began to slide. Area hospitals reported 49 injuries due to people falling on ice.