State Of Emergency Declared As Portlanders Battle Snowmageddon

After two December snowstorms, Portlanders were ready for winter. At least we thought we were. Then Tuesday, January 10th happened: a foot of snow, a state of emergency, dozens of power outages, buildings collapsing under the weight of the snow. The snowstorm of January 2017 is no joke.

When the snowfall began on Tuesday night, we all marveled at how quickly it piled up. 5 inches, 6 inches, 7 inches. With much of Portland reporting between 10 and 15 total inches of snow by Wednesday afternoon, this is the biggest snowfall to hit the city in nearly 30 years. Dropping an inch of snow an hour before midnight, it was a sight to behold, and one to remember.

The quick accumulation put a strain on city resources prompting mayor Ted Wheeler to declare a state of emergency for the city, and governor Kate Brown to declare the same for the state. Eastern Oregon continues to be pounded with winter weather, and the weight of snowpack has collapsed several roofs.

The snow isn't stopping everyone from going about their daily business, though. Portlanders have been spotted skiing, snowshoeing, and finding all sorts of creative ways to get to where they need to go.

With temperatures expected to stay under freezing until the weekend, the snow is here to stay, at least for a couple more days. If you have to go out, be safe. While the chain requirement in the city has been lifted, streets are packed with snow, so take it really slow. If you are stuck inside, stay warm, curl up with a good book or Netflix series, and enjoy the quiet.

#pdx #broadway #downtownportland #snow #portlandsnow #snowplow #portland #concerthall #schnitzer

A photo posted by christopher roger putnam (@ojiwabi.ragnar) on Jan 11, 2017 at 8:24pm PST

How are you surviving this snowpocalypse of 2017? Let us know in the comment section below.