Oregon Public Broadcasting

Winter storms are dumping heavy snow around the Northwest Tuesday.  The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for much of Oregon.

In the Portland area, 1 to 4 inches of snow are possible in areas above 500 feet.

Along the Coast Range, forecasters are expecting accumulations of 10 to 20 inches.  The forecast calls for 5 to 18 inches in much of Eastern Oregon and 1 to 3 feet of snow in the Upper Cascades.

David Nogueras / OPB

All that snow could cause problems for motorists says Don Hamilton.  He's a spokesman with the Oregon Department of Transportation. 

"If you get into a 'fender-bender' it's going to ruin your day," he says.  "But more than that, one 'fender-bender' can tie up a whole highway for a long time because that means that we can't get the plows though, get the trucks though that need to make the circumstances better," Hamilton said.

Hamilton says drivers should slow down, stay aware of their surroundings and keep their distance from other cars.

Forecasters say more snow and ice are possible early Wednesday.

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