Winter Storm Maya Has All of Oregon Under a Weather Advisory. It’s Going to Be Worse Than Predicted.

Expect heavy snowfall tonight and treacherous roads all weekend.

Southeast Portland on Feb. 21, 2018. (Sam Gehrke)
By Elise Herron

The snow storm headed for the Pacific Northwest this weekend is ramping up. It even has a name: Winter Storm Maya.

According to the National Weather Service of Portland, the city will get two to four inches of snow overnight tonight and into the morning tomorrow.

That's a notable increase from the agency's prediction yesterday of one to two inches of snowfall.

"East of I-205 will start seeing snow not long after this evening's commute," NWS meteorologist Jeremiah Pyle says. "It'll pick up across the area overnight, and likely snow all night and into Saturday morning."

Pyle says snowfall likely won't continue during the day and overnight Saturday, but that below-freezing temperatures will make roads dangerously icy all weekend.

"The after effects of tonight's snowfall could make it pretty treacherous for driving this weekend," Pyle says.

The agency has issued a winter storm warning, and Pyle says another cold front is likely to bring snow to the area on Sunday night.

"We're still up in the air on amounts of snow on Sunday night," Pyle says.

Portland Bureau of Transportation has incidence response crews prepared to salt and de-ice roads over the weekend, and the Portland International Airport has cancelled several flights.

Homeless shelter providers in Multnomah County have also put out another urgent call for winter weather gear at severe weather warming shelters.

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