Winter Travel Advisory: PBOT advises the traveling public to be mindful of forecasts for potential snow Wednesday night through Thursday

(Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026) The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) advises the traveling public to be mindful of weather forecasts through Thursday, as snow in hilly areas is likely overnight and could create hazardous travel for a few hours, in a timeframe from 5 p.m. Wednesday night through noon on Thursday.

The National Weather Service has advised PBOT that they have high confidence that there will be snow showers above 1,000 feet elevation, that could produce persistent showers that create hazardous travel conditions.

Below 1,000 feet elevation, there is moderate confidence in the potential for several inches of accumulating snow with travel impacts, from 8 p.m. Wednesday through noon on Thursday.

Snow showers and potential accumulation may start as early as 5 p.m., affecting evening commute hours. Snow impacts at the lowest elevations would only last a few hours and would occur in a localized area to the south, near Eugene or to the north near Clark County, Wash., or directly in the Portland-Vancouver area.

Areas at 500 feet or higher above sea level -- including the West Hills, Mount Tabor and Pleasant Valley in East Portland -- could have more snow. Those areas would likely be the first to see snowfall and experience the lowest temperatures.

There is likely to be a mix of rain and snow showers that produce little to no snow accumulation with little to no travel impacts for most locations.

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The forecast has a high degree of uncertainty. In the days and hours in advance of a winter storm, forecasts often change. For many Portlanders, Tuesday night and Wednesday may be a convenient time to locate your winter weather supplies, including a snow shovel and ice melter for use in keeping your sidewalk passable in snowy conditions.

Respond to weather conditions you see while traveling

People driving, walking or biking are advised to be prepared to respond to the weather conditions you see on your trip. If you see snow or icy precipitation, slow down. Use extra caution. Be prepared to slow down or pull over to park your vehicle and wait for conditions to improve. Dress warmly.

The public should be prepared for worse conditions than is forecast, including more snow and snowfall that arrives earlier or later than expected. Forecasts come with uncertainty, and weather forecasters have difficulty predicting snow in the Portland area.

Be prepared to travel based on the conditions you encounter during your trip, including carrying traction devices like chains and an emergency weather kit in your vehicle. Helpful items to include in addition to chains are a snow shovel, bag of sand, jumper cables, first aid kit, basic tools (pliers, wrench, screwdriver and knife), blanket and warm clothing, extra food and water, cell phone and extra charger, and a flashlight.

Get Home Safe: Snow and ice travel tips at the PBOT website

During winter weather, PBOT works to keep vital public transit lines and emergency routes open. These snow and ice routes are the most critical for our city's police and fire stations, hospitals, schools, frequent bus routes, the downtown core, and major business districts -- about a third of our entire street grid. PBOT's mission is to provide at least one passable lane in each direction on these routes so that vehicles with front wheel drive or traction devices can get through.

Depending on the severity of snow and ice, it can take up to three 12-hour shifts for our crews to sufficiently treat our routes with anti-icer. In a major snowfall, it can take our crews up to one 12-hour shift to plow our routes.

See the PBOT Winter Weather Center for a full interactive map of snow and ice routes in Portland, as well as interactive elevation maps of the aea

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The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is the steward of the city's transportation system and a community partner in shaping a livable city. We plan, build, manage, and maintain an effective and safe transportation system that provides access and mobility. Learn more at portland.gov/transportation