A trail of footprints lead from the parking lot to the water as freshly-fallen snow blankets Frenchman's Bar Regional Park in Vancouver, Wash., on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. The winter storm dropped between 1 and 2 inches of snow on the city. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian via AP)
The Associated Press
SEATTLE (AP) - A thaw-out is coming for frozen Seattle and Portland, Oregon, but not before another round of snow that could compound problems for a region more accustomed to winter rain than arctic blasts.
More snow and rain fell on California on Wednesday, causing travel disruptions on mountain routes and raising the risk of debris flows from wildfire burn scars.
And in Nevada the governor plans to declare a state of emergency due to snow and storm conditions affecting travel in the Lake Tahoe area of northern Nevada.
Forecasters say parts of western Washington could see up to 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) of snow Thursday and northwestern Oregon could see a similar amount.
The normally temperate part of the Pacific Northwest has shivered with temperatures hitting the single digits in some areas this week after extreme cold air from Canada's Fraser River Valley blew in on Sunday.
Snow and ice has made travel treacherous in some parts, forced closures and travel delays and prompted people to take shelter in emergency warming centers.
The weather and the pandemic have forced the cancellation of nearly 1,300 flights into and out of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport since Sunday. The situation has been acute in Alaska, where hundreds of passengers, many from coastal villages, have been stranded in the town of Bethel because of bad weather and ill-equipped airports.
Temperatures could rise above freezing in Seattle Thursday and be even warmer in Portland, before airflow from the Pacific blows in on the weekend and causes the mercury to rise to more seasonable highs in the 40s Fahrenheit (4.4 Celsius).
State officials in Oregon have declared an emergency. In Multnomah County - home to Portland - about a half dozen weather shelters were open this week. A similar number of shelters were opened in Seattle's King County, which also declared an emergency.
Seattle leaders said city shelters will remain open through the new year.
Winter weather and a return to pre-pandemic levels of traffic have resulted in hundreds of accidents on Oregon roads this holiday season.
Oregon Public Broadcasting reported that between Dec. 23 and Dec. 28 there were 915 traffic accidents in the state. During that same period last year there were 365 accidents and 237 in 2019, according to Oregon State Police. The number of deaths has not been calculated yet.
David House, a spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Transportation, said the high number of accidents over the last week is a reminder to travelers to use caution and prepare for slick conditions.
'œIf you can sit tight for a couple more days, just avoid getting out there, that's going to be the safest thing you can possibly do,'ť House said.
In Nevada, a statement released by Gov. Steve Sisolak's office said the emergency declaration will allow state officials to order vehicles traveling in on mountain highways to turn around and return to lower elevations until weather conditions subside and the roadways are safe to use.
'œThis will help prevent motorists from becoming stranded overnight on the roadways, potentially running out of gas in subfreezing temperatures without access to emergency services,'ť the statement said.
It said U.S. 50 and State Routes 207 and 28 were experiencing long delays and dangerous conditions and that authorities need to be able to clear the roadways to make room for emergency vehicles and snow plows.
Caltrans said snowplows were working around the clock and urged people to avoid all but essential travel in the Sierra.
Among staggering snowfall totals in the Sierra, the Northstar resort at Lake Tahoe reported 135 inches (3.43 meters) since Dec. 21.
A woman turns back to eye gulls surrounding her hoping for a treat as she walks in a snow-covered park Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, in Bellingham, Wash. Snow, ice and unseasonable cold in the Pacific Northwest and the Sierra Nevada are continuing to disrupt traffic, cause closures and force people to find refuge in emergency warming shelters. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
The Associated Press
People use the parking lot of the Madelyn Helling Library in Nevada City, Calif., Tuesday , Dec. 28, 2021, to take advantage of the American Red Cross device charging and warming center. Snow, ice and unseasonable cold in the Pacific Northwest and the Sierra Nevada are continuing to disrupt traffic, cause closures and force people to find refuge in emergency warming shelters. (Elias Funez/The Union via AP)
The Associated Press
An American Red Cross warming center has been established in Madelyn Helling Library in Nevada City, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. Snow, ice and unseasonable cold in the Pacific Northwest and the Sierra Nevada are continuing to disrupt traffic, cause closures and force people to find refuge in emergency warming shelters. (Elias Funez/The Union via AP)
The Associated Press
Kelly Hall and her brother Geof Finley take a walk in the snow along W. Bannock St. in downtown Boise, Idaho, on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021. The National Weather Service is forecasting very cold temperatures in the Treasure Valley from Friday night through Sunday. Snow will continue on Thursday. (Sarah A. Miller /Idaho Statesman via AP)
The Associated Press
Justin Kennedy of Onslaught Crew, an action sports organization, clears the sidewalk from snow on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021 in the area where OC will have a ski and snowboard exhibition during the Potato Drop on New Year's Eve in Boise, Idaho. The National Weather Service is forecasting very cold temperatures in the Treasure Valley from Friday night through Sunday. (Sarah A. Miller /Idaho Statesman via AP)
The Associated Press
Lily Tetrick, 13, and her mother Amber Tetrick cross Main St. in the snow in downtown Boise, Idaho, on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021. The National Weather Service is forecasting very cold temperatures in the Treasure Valley from Friday night through Sunday. (Sarah A. Miller /Idaho Statesman via AP)
The Associated Press
Snow accumulates on W. Bannock St. and N. Capitol Blvd. in downtown Boise, Idaho, on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021. The National Weather Service is forecasting very cold temperatures in the Treasure Valley from Friday night through Sunday. Snow will continue on Thursday. (Sarah A. Miller/Idaho Statesman via AP)
The Associated Press
Ice and snow fall from the beak of a varied thrush, its feathers puffed-up against freezing temperatures, digging seeds out of snow Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, in Bellingham, Wash. Snow, ice and unseasonable cold in the Pacific Northwest and the Sierra Nevada are continuing to disrupt traffic, cause closures and force people to find refuge in emergency warming shelters. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
The Associated Press
A varied thrush, its feathers puffed-up against freezing temperatures, eyes seeds buried in snow Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, in Bellingham, Wash. Snow, ice and unseasonable cold in the Pacific Northwest and the Sierra Nevada are continuing to disrupt traffic, cause closures and force people to find refuge in emergency warming shelters. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
The Associated Press
Rob Hager, of Redwood City, Calif., removes tire chains from his car at a roadside gas station in Camino, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. Hager and his family spent over five hours in stopped traffic along US 50. They were headed east to the Lake Tahoe are for skiing, but gave up and returned homeward. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)
The Associated Press
Jasmine DeGuzman 12, left, and her sisters Rachael 12, and Camille 7 shiver in the snow as their father Raymond DeGuzman of Hayward, Calif. removes snow chains from his tires in Camino, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. The DeGuzmans turned back short of their destination as heavy snow caused eastbound traffic along US 50 to a crawl. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)
The Associated Press
Oakley catches a snowball tossed by Riley Goff, of Kelseyville, Calif., on Cobb Mountain, in California, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, as another in a long line of rain and snowstorms hammers the West Coast. (Kent Porter/The Press Democrat via AP)
The Associated Press
legs. Jonas Pao, left, and Phela Durosinmi, of Palo Alto, Calif., had time to build a snowman on the highway median while traffic was at a standstill along eastbound US 50 in Pollock Pines, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)
The Associated Press
Heavy snow along US 50 caused eastbound traffic to back up for miles in Pollock Pines, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. Some motorists were able to exit their cars occasionally to stretch their legs. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)
The Associated Press
A snowman is seen along Highway 175 on Cobb Mountain, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, as another in a long line of rain and snow storms hammers the West Coast. (Kent Porter/The Press Democrat via AP)
The Associated Press
Kelseyville residents Horacio Montes-De Oca, left, and Hanna Scully and their dog Aselo walk in the snow on Cobb Mountain, Calif., at Adams Springs, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, as another in a long line of rain and snow storms hammer the West Coast. (Kent Porter/The Press Democrat via AP)
The Associated Press
A woman walks by the historic downtown Lewiston, Idaho, mural as snow continues to fall on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (August Frank/Lewiston Tribune via AP)
The Associated Press
Jeff Zimmerman clears the walkways on the Lewis-Clark State College campus of snow with a leaf blower on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, in Lewiston, Idaho. (August Frank/Lewiston Tribune via AP)
The Associated Press