The Portland metro area saw a glimpse of a snowy winter wonderland yesterday as snowfalls hit areas all around town.
Mark Nelson, chief meteorologist for Fox 12 News, said, “Everybody had a dusting,” though he added that most of the snowfall was in the hills and more towards the east side.
The National Weather Service forecasts snow through Thursday and Friday; Nelson confirmed there was a “risk of snow mixed with rain” through Friday morning.
The snow is part of what Nelson calls a “horrible, terrible storm” that came over the ocean from Alaska. He noted that if it had come directly over Canada, it would have been much colder.
����� ��
Though snow is not common this time of year, Nelson noted that it was possible in the metro area from mid-November through March. The last November snow he recalled was in 1996.
The Portland State campus saw snowfall in the earlier part of the day, though none of it stuck long on the ground and most had melted by midday.
Most students still managed to enjoy the snow as best they could.
“He shoved snow down my pants,” Aaleeya Spence said of her friend, Roger Wert. “I have wet underwear because of Roger.”
Katrice Cyphers, another PSU student, noted, “Being a Californian, I wish it would snow more.” She did, however, have visibility problems in the morning on her drive to campus from her home in North Portland.
Cyphers wasn’t the only student to experience transportation problems due to the weather. Erin Devaney spent 40 extra minutes on a bus. Despite being late to class, she did enjoy the break.
“I spent four hours on the freeway this morning because of the snow,” Ryan Klute, another student, stated. “Dumb-ass people pulled over on the side of the road and were sticking their tongues out to catch snowflakes.”
Besides playing in the snow or experiencing transportation difficulties, many students also entertained the notion of a snow day today, hoping they might not have to complete a paper or project due. The return of the rain later in the day quashed most of these ideas, though if the snow were to get to a serious level, University President Daniel Bernstine or Vice President Jay Kenton would be the ones to decide whether or not to close the school.
��� ��
Despite classes not being cancelled, student Kim Gaines noted, “It makes me think that the semester is going to be over real soon.”
The recent snowfall does mean good news for skiers and snowboarders. As of today, Mount Hood Meadows is now open.