Snow showers coat region, more on tap for Wednesday?

PORTLAND, Ore. - Snow showers moved through the Northwest Tuesday morning, giving the area a taste of winter just days before Christmas and the official start of winter on Dec. 21.

Very little of the snow was sticking at lower elevations and temperatures are expected to rise soon, but more snow showers could hit the region overnight into Wednesday.

Locations above 500 feet in elevation did see some wet snow stick to grass, bushes and some pavement Tuesday, but KATU Meteorologist Rhonda Shelby said that on Wednesday, the snow level will rise to near 2,000 feet and rain will fall in most lower elevations. Watch the latest forecast

"While most of the hills will see accumulating snow this morning above 500 feet,  near sea level  we will only see a mix of rain and snow that doesn't stick," Shelby said.

"A mix of rain and snow will continue below 500 feet. In heavier showers, snow will hit the valley floor at times through the afternoon," she said. "It will either melt or stick around briefly but will not become a travel problem."

Temperatures in the Portland area could reach 35 degrees overnight, leading to more snow on the ground if there is enough moisture.

Around the region, some school districts delayed opening schools and some buses were on snow routes. Check closures, delays and bus info here.

Around the city of Portland, road crews were keeping an eye on conditions but most streets at low elevations remained just wet despite the snow flurries.

Slushy snow did pile up on some streets at higher elevations, including near SW Capitol Highway and Vermont Street, where slick conditions helped land a dump truck on its side and took a TriMet bus out of action. No one was hurt.

TriMet placed a "handful" of bus lines on snow routes, according to public information officer Roberta Alstadt. She said over a dozen buses got stuck Tuesday from a combination of weather conditions or other factors, such as stuck cars ahead of the buses.

Updates can be found on the TriMet website and a special service alerts updates page.

KATU reporter Melanie Wingo, stationed on the infamous Sylvan Hill location, saw snow sticking to grass and areas next to roadways. There was some slushy snow that set up on the pavement as well.

Snow was also sticking at Council Crest above downtown Portland, where the elevation is close to 1,000 feet. Sylvan Hill is at abut 700 feet in elevation. Youngsters slid down the broad hills of the park on toboggans as the morning went on and more snow showers moved through.

• Photo gallery: Portland's famous street of holiday lights, Peacock Lane

Shelby said snow was falling in areas across western Oregon from Portland to Medford on Tuesday.

Mountain locations reported getting deep new snow, which is good news for skiers, snowboarders and mountain ski resort operators. More mountain snow is on the way, Shelby said.

"Meadows received 18 inches of snow in 24 hours (three feet in three days) to offer up some awesome storm riding Monday," Dave Tragethon, Executive Director at Mt. Hood Meadows said Tuesday morning. "The snowpack has increased to 77 inches and a major storm is forecast for this week."

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