Regional Interests

Been Outside? Yeah, It's Cold. And It's Sticking Around.

Oregon Public Broadcasting | By Rob Manning

Published January 3, 2017 at 1:38 PM PST

2017 is starting out cold, all over Oregon.

The National Weather Service says temperatures are likely to stay below freezing in the Willamette Valley for days and even colder to the east.

The Portland area isn't likely to see temperatures much above the freezing mark before Friday.

Andy Bryant, with the National Weather Service in Portland said it's equally cold, whether it's windy or not. In places where the wind is blowing, like Gresham or Troutdale, the wind chill factor makes the 20-degree temperatures feel like it's in the teens.

But the wind also helps moderate the cold front over western Oregon, so areas where the wind is not blowing actually have lower temperature readings.

“Places like Hillsboro, Battle Ground, maybe places south of Portland, could get down into the teens, the next couple of nights," said Bryant, thinking of places where it's less windy.

So the wind makes it feel colder, but where there isn't a wind, the conditions make it actually colder.

"It’s no-net-change, basically," Bryant said. "It’s going to feel cold, one way or the other.”

Frigid temperatures have led authorities in the Portland area to open additional shelter space. Portland Police reported a 51 year-old homeless man was found dead on January 2, due to hypothermia.

Get into the Cascades, or farther east, and there's even less mercury showing in local thermometers. Communities in the mountains and eastern Oregon are more accustomed to sub-freezing temperatures than Portland, but they're still feeling conditions on the cold side of average.

"It’s very cold in some parts of central and eastern Oregon, down, single digits in some places, and into the teens," said Bryant.

There's a large swath of Oregon facing winter weather warnings and advisories, from the northern end of the Cascade mountains across the southern half of the state.

Forecasters anticipate several inches of snow in the Bend area, and the possibility of snow throughout southern Oregon.

Snow, freezing rain or just plain rain could return to Portland at the end of the week, when clouds are expected to return. Only question is how cold it'll be then.

<p>Abandoned cars line the side of I-405 as commuters work their way into town in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016. A winter storm dumped several inches of snow in the area late Wednesday, snarling traffic, causing many commuters to abandon their cars.</p> — Abandoned cars line the side of I-405 as commuters work their way into town in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016. A winter storm dumped several inches of snow in the area late Wednesday, snarling traffic, causing many commuters to abandon their cars.

<p>A postal truck passes a car with a warning written in snow in a rear window in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016. A winter storm dumped several inches of snow in the area late Wednesday, snarling traffic, causing many commuters to abandon their cars.</p> — A postal truck passes a car with a warning written in snow in a rear window in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016. A winter storm dumped several inches of snow in the area late Wednesday, snarling traffic, causing many commuters to abandon their cars.

<p>Cars, involved in a slippery accident after last nights' snow storm are strewn across a street in Lake Oswego, Ore., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016. </p> — Cars, involved in a slippery accident after last nights' snow storm are strewn across a street in Lake Oswego, Ore., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016.

<p>Friends help push Jacey Bustad's car out of a snow bank after it got stuck halfway up Mt. Scott Wednesday night.</p> — Friends help push Jacey Bustad's car out of a snow bank after it got stuck halfway up Mt. Scott Wednesday night.

<p>Drivers navigate an icy Interstate 5 the day have a strong storm dumped between 1 to 3 inches in the Portland area, Dec. 15, 2016</p> — Drivers navigate an icy Interstate 5 the day have a strong storm dumped between 1 to 3 inches in the Portland area, Dec. 15, 2016

<p>Neighbors help push an abandoned car out of the right of way on Harney Rd. in the Lents neighborhood of Portland, Dec. 15, 2016.</p> — Neighbors help push an abandoned car out of the right of way on Harney Rd. in the Lents neighborhood of Portland, Dec. 15, 2016.

<p>A snowplow clears the road in Portland</p> — A snowplow clears the road in Portland

<p>Trimet busses locked equipped with snow chains pick up commuters the morning after Portland's winter storm. </p> — Trimet busses locked equipped with snow chains pick up commuters the morning after Portland's winter storm.

<p>An employee at a Shell gas station clears the driveways leading to gas pumps.</p> — An employee at a Shell gas station clears the driveways leading to gas pumps.

<p>The cars on I-84 move cautiously after last night's winter storm crippled the evening commute. </p> — The cars on I-84 move cautiously after last night's winter storm crippled the evening commute.

<p>A construction crews works alongside an empty road. </p> — A construction crews works alongside an empty road.

<p>Snow plows go down busy Portland roads after the winter storm.</p> — Snow plows go down busy Portland roads after the winter storm.

<p>A man waiting for public transit looks down a nearly empty Cesar Chavez Blvd. </p> — A man waiting for public transit looks down a nearly empty Cesar Chavez Blvd.

<p>During a calm in the winter storm, a woman takes a night stroll through Portland's Laurelhurst Park. </p> — During a calm in the winter storm, a woman takes a night stroll through Portland's Laurelhurst Park.

<p>A man fills up on gas during the snowstorm. </p> — A man fills up on gas during the snowstorm.

<p>Warnings to stay off the road from the Oregon Department of Transportation left Hawthorne Street nearly empty at 9 p.m. </p> — Warnings to stay off the road from the Oregon Department of Transportation left Hawthorne Street nearly empty at 9 p.m.

<p>During the winter storm, many TriMet buses were out of service, further complicating a commuting nightmare for unlucky travelers. </p> — During the winter storm, many TriMet buses were out of service, further complicating a commuting nightmare for unlucky travelers.

<p>A couple takes a selfie on an empty street in the heart of the Hawthorne district in Portland. </p> — A couple takes a selfie on an empty street in the heart of the Hawthorne district in Portland.

<p>East of Sellwood Bridge on Tacoma during a challenging and slick commute, Dec. 14, 2016.</p> — East of Sellwood Bridge on Tacoma during a challenging and slick commute, Dec. 14, 2016.

<p>The brief calm on Sellwood Bridge during a difficult and slick commute, Dec. 14, 2016.</p> — The brief calm on Sellwood Bridge during a difficult and slick commute, Dec. 14, 2016.