Storm Tracker Weather Alert: 2-4 inches expected to fall through Saturday morning

PORTLAND, Ore. — This story was published Friday evening - for the latest information, click here.

Cold Arctic air is now pouring into the Pacific Northwest, bringing a blanket of snow to parts of the Portland metro area.

After briefly being covered with snow, Interstate 84 near Troutdale was mostly clear late Friday night; however, the roads remained wet. And the snow did stick in the outskirts of Portland, including places like Troutdale.

But Salesky said the snow was still on its way toward Portland, and by about 6 a.m. Saturday, there could be two to four inches of snow on the ground. Another inch to two inches could fall between then and noon.

“Once it gets here, it won’t be going anywhere anytime soon, because we have cold air in place,” he said.

The Portland-Vancouver area, as well as other areas in the region, remained under a Winter Storm Warning Friday night. It was set to expire at 4 p.m. Saturday.

When the snow does arrive, city officials said during a Friday afternoon news conference, that they’re better prepared to handle the storm than in years past.

The Portland Bureau of Transportation said its crews will be working around the clock. People are advised to give any snowplows space and allow them to do their jobs.

In preparation for the storm, many people flocked to grocery stores, clearing their shelves of food.

If you do find yourself driving in the snow and get stuck, it's not a good idea to abandon your car. If you do, PBOT says you could face hefty fines. It says the parking and towing fee will cost $201. Then, you'll get a citation for blocking the road. That's $85. Then, if you don't get your car within four hours, you'll have to pay another $27 every day while it's on the lot.

The Oregon Department of Transportation said it plans to use salt on a limited basis on roads this weekend to help keep the roads clear. It will be using it on the main interstates, including in the downtown area along Interstate 405 and Interstate 5, as well as along Highway 26.

In Washington, the snow started in the Seattle area earlier in the day, and then slowly crept south toward Vancouver. Gov. Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency for Washington. If you were driving from Seattle to Portland, it was apparently a white-knuckle ride, several people KATU spoke with said.

The snow also canceled flights from PDX to SEA.

Check your flight’s status here.

Severe weather shelters are open for those with no place warm to go. No one will be turned away during the storm. To find the nearest shelter or to arrange for a ride, call 211. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.