PBOT prepares for winter season as snow enters the forecast for the Cascades

Limited visibility, blowing snow, and ice. That’s what PBOT is up against when it comes to making the roads passable during winter weather.

Each October, PBOT crews return to the Portland International Raceway to brush up on their snowplow skills and practice in a safe environment.

"And then after the event, our drivers will go and drive the snow routes, the winter weather routes, to make sure they get familiar with the roads and to know whether there will be parked cars, to know if there are any medians, to know if there are any changes in the streets that are there to get familiar with the snow routes," said Priya Dhanapal, the Deputy City Administrator for City of Portland Public Works.

So what kind of conditions can we expect?

The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center calls for a transition to La Niña conditions this fall and that can mean cooler, wetter weather in the Pacific Northwest.

It’s exciting news for Timberline Lodge.

KATU Spoke with Timberline’s Marketing Director, John Burton. "I mean, Timberline, we’re fortunate enough where, you know, we typically get lots of snow anyway. So La Niña, you know, even a weaker or moderate one can bring us even more snow. Everyone knows that last year, industry-wide from east to west, it was a pretty rough year for ski areas. So we’re looking forward to, you know, this improved forecast for sure."

He says of the five heaviest snowfall years, all were La Niña’s. Out of the past ten years, four La Niña years have resulted in a November opening for Timberline Lodge.

According to the Mount Hood Meadows website, their resort’s average opening date is November 25th.

https://katu.com/news/local/snow-expected-in-the-cascades-this-week-p-bot-prepares-for-winter-season
_______________
Stay up to date with our social media:

KATU on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katunews
KATU on Twitter: https://twitter.com/KATUNews
Subscribe to KATU on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmDTerxNU_gvCWLkIPkqghA/?sub_confirmation=1

Daily News Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFtHM_AbvnEUkd_YRTlZpGKkbczT5w062

For more information, visit https://katu.com/

Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:

Email us: newstips@katu.com
Call the Newsroom: 503.231.4222

KATU is a OR based station and a ABC Television affiliate owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today.

#KATU #Katu2abc #Portland #Oregon #localnews #oregonnews

Author: KATU News
Go to Source

News post in at: October 17, 2024, 3:03 am.

Visit Our Sponsor’s:
News.Science – News Science