Snow Blankets Lower Columbia Basin

A blanket of snow fell on the Lower Columbia Basin overnight causing slick driving conditions and canceled school classes around the area.

School districts in Hermiston, Umatilla, Stanfield, Echo, Pendleton and Morrow County have canceled classes for the day due to the inclement weather. All school-related activities have also been canceled for the day. A winter snow advisory remains in effect until around 10 a.m. this morning, according to the National Weather Service.

The weather service is reporting as much as a couple of inches of snow fell overnight and ice has formed on roadways. Precipitation began tapering offer early this morning.

Crews were out early laying gravel on the roads and streets in Hermiston, although West Elm Avenue was gravel-free and slick as of 9 a.m. Hermiston Police Chief Jason Edmiston said there have been no reports of accidents in Hermiston.

“Our street department did a great job of getting out early this morning,” he said.

(WINTER DRIVING TIPS)

The forecast for today calls for a high of around 32 degrees with a chance of freezing rain between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. Thursday morning. More precipitation is in the forecast over the next few days, but the temperatures are expected to be in the mid-40s, preventing the rain from turning into snow or freezing rain.

For the latest weather conditions and forecasts, visit the National Weather Service website.