PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Oregon Department of Transportation is advising travelers to take caution or delay travel all together on Sunday until road conditions improve near Mount Hood.
ODOT said that conditions have remained treacherous on the highways around the mountain/ Heavy snowfall, spinouts and high winds continue to bring down trees and reduce visibility in the area. Early Sunday morning, a tree fell and knocked down a sign bridge at US 26 near OR 35, blocking each lane until crews were able to clear it.
Anyone traveling between Bend and Portland are advised to avoid US 26 and instead use Interstate 84 through the Columbia River Gorge.
Winter weather advisory
The Pacific Northwest’s first major storm of the season has arrived. The National Weather Service on Sunday issued a winter weather advisory for both the Seattle and Portland metro areas in effect through the Monday morning commute.
Snow began hitting the ground Sunday afternoon in Seattle, which could see up to 2 inches of snow and very slippery road conditions. Other parts of Oregon are also facing severe weather, including beach hazards like sneaker waves out on the coast and avalanche warnings on Mount Hood.
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This story was written with contributions from the Associated Press.