Forecasters say Saturday evening could bring snow and ice that, thanks to persistent freezing temperatures, could stick around through much of the coming week.
That means poor driving conditions that will hit just as hundreds of thousands of Oregonians are planning to hit the road. AAA Oregon/Idaho says 1.3 million Oregonians plan a road trip for the Christmas and New Year holidays — about 20% more than last year.
MAP: See where snowfall is expected over the next 24 hours
If you’re one of them, make sure you’re ready. And start your preparations now.
Plan ahead
If you can avoid road travel altogether, do it. Stock up enough food, medication and other household needs to get through the stretch of foul weather.
Travel earlier or later to avoid the storm. If you’re set on traveling on Saturday for Christmas, remember that clear roads early in the day could turn snowy by the time you’re ready to leave. Allow plenty of time to get home before bad weather hits. Alternatively, consider planning for an overnight stay at your destination.
Don’t expect snow plows to dig you out. It can take days for Portland-area road crews to get through the city’s streets, and staffing shortages could make the process even slower this year. Some roads aren’t plowed at all. Here’s where to find plow routes and track plow crews’ progress.
Prep your car for travel
Check your car’s lights, battery and fluids. You want to be sure other drivers can see you, and a car breakdown in the snow can be deadly.
Top off your gas tank. You should be prepared for a much longer trip than usual because of the potential for crashes, slippery road conditions and poor visibility.
Clean your windows. Clean windows are less likely to frost over on cold mornings.
Check your tire pressure. But don’t over-inflate. That will reduce your tire’s contact with the road, resulting in less traction.
Pack chains or use traction tires. They’re required in some hilly and mountainous areas, and they’re a good idea anywhere snow and ice is present. Having chains isn’t enough, though, so make sure you know how to use them.
Carry an emergency kit. Snowy conditions increase your chances of getting stuck in your car for a prolonged period of time. Carry an emergency kit all year long that includes food, water, blankets and any medical supplies you may need. Shovels and sand or gravel can help free a car stuck in snow.
Hitting the road
Check conditions before you leave. Go to Tripcheck.com for condition reports on highways and mountain passes, and view cameras along your route. Consider re-routing to safer roads if necessary.
Scrape any snow or ice off your entire car. It’s not all about you -- it’s about the people driving behind you. As your car heats up, the snow on the roof will form a sheet of ice that could fly into the windshield of the car behind you.
Turn on your lights if you’re using your wipers. Even if you’re driving during the day, snow and mist hurt visibility. Turn on your lights.
Take it slow and drive with a light touch. With reduced traction, the car is more vulnerable to the forces of physics. Overly enthusiastic acceleration, braking or steering could send you careening in unintended directions.
Think ahead. Brake early and gradually, and plan for turns sooner than you would under normal conditions. You want to slow down gradually until you feel the car’s inertia dissipate — to the point where you won’t slide into an intersection or spin during a turn. By the same token, maintaining some inertia can help climb smaller hills. (Bigger hills likely require chains or traction tires.)
If you do lose control, sometimes the best thing to do — counterintuitive though it may be — is to release both the gas and brake pedals completely. This should either unlock the wheels or reduce wheelspin, which will immediately improve your ability to steer.
Don’t spin your wheels. If you get stuck in snow, stomping on the gas is just going to dig you in deeper. Instead, try laying down sand or gravel, if you’re carrying it. Then gently “rock” your vehicle out of its rut. Once you’re moving, do your best to keep your momentum so as not to get stuck again.
Remember, SUVs don’t confer superpowers. Bigger vehicles and those equipped with traction-control systems do offer an additional margin of error when driving in the snow. That doesn’t mean you can drive as normal, and your car can still end up in a ditch.
Beware of power outages. Storms may knock out electric service, shutting off traffic signals. Remember to treat a dead traffic light like a four-way stop.
Elliot Njus, Dave Killen, Jamie Hale, Rosemarie Stein and Kale Williams contributed to this report.