Hear that That’s the sound of the first snow falling on dried leaves.
But it also means it’s the season for this sound: “BEEP, BEEP”
While the fresh powder is beautiful it can also be deadly. That’s why road crews mobilized as early as Thursday night. “We came up last night, our supervisor said get up to the summit and get your plow down,” says Jim Stith with the Jackson County Road Department. His department and crews from ODOT are going up and down the I-5 and other mountain roadways, clearing snow and laying magnesium chloride de-icer.
The storm is even bringing snow to the valley floors. “I’m hear at the market picking up groceries incase I can’t get out for the next couple days,” says Carol Custodio from Ashland who tells us her home has a very steep driveway. For many Ashland residents the early morning drop came as a surprise. “I hadn’t been watching the weather,” Roy Wise, who is riding his bike this morning, tells us.
It certainly was a shock for Dieter Heycke, who is visiting from somewhere much warmer, “I live in Honolulu, I’m only visiting here.”
While most say it’s still a pleasant surprise – – the weather could wreak havoc for truckers like Gary Lumsden. “You should talk to the night guys,” he says, “they’re going to have a heck of a time.”
Stith says the storm is headed south, ruining travel plans along the way. “My daughter was heading down from Wilsonville, but they were only going 40 miles per hour. The snow was getting worse. She says she made the right decision and decided to turn around and go home where it’s safe,” says Stith.
Road crews say drivers should take it slow, plan for extra travel time, and carry chains and emergency supplies.
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