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Clackamas County and the Portland metropolitan area have experienced hazardous winter conditions.
Please use caution if you need or decide to travel.
Check the National Weather Service or local media for updated information.
Consider signing up for severe weather alerts.
County Closures
Check our Service Hours page for closures and modified hours.
Online Services
Due to extended power outages, online services may be intermittent.
Warming Centers
We contract warming centers to open the doors on nights when the National Weather Service predicts temperatures or other conditions make sleeping outdoors especially dangerous. Check current openings.
Power Outages
The combination of ice and wind may lead to power outages. Please check your power company for information related to power outages.
Never use a portable generator indoors. Read tips on using your generator safely during a power outage.
Garbage and Recycling
- The Clackamas County Transfer Station in Sandy is closed Friday, February 12. The facility will reopen when icy road conditions improve. For the latest information, visit Waste Management Service Alerts.
- Inclement Weather is impacting Garbage and Recycling Service. For the latest information, visit your company’s webpage or sign up for service alerts.
Winter Driving Tips
Plan your travel and route
Keep yourself and others safe by planning ahead before you venture out into bad
weather.
- Check the weather, road conditions, and traffic; plan to leave early if necessary.
- Don’t rush! Allow plenty of time to get to your destination safely.
- Familiarize yourself with directions and maps before you go, even if you use a GPS system, and let others know your route and anticipated arrival time.
- Keep your gas tank close to full, even with an electric vehicle. If you get stuck in a traffic jam or in snow, you might need more fuel to get home or keep warm.
Note: To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning when stuck in snow, be sure to keep your vehicle’s exhaust pipe clear of snow and ice, run your vehicle only in the open with the windows partially down, and run it only long enough to keep warm. - Wait until road and weather conditions improve before venturing out in your vehicle. If road conditions are hazardous, avoid driving if possible.
Stock your vehicle
Carry items in your vehicle to handle common winter driving tasks, such as cleaning off your windshield, as well as any supplies you might need in an emergency.
- snow shovel, broom, and ice scraper
- sturdy boots with traction
- abrasive material such as sand or kitty litter, in case your vehicle gets stuck in the snow
- jumper cables, flashlight, and warning devices such as flares and markers
- blankets for protection from the cold
- cell phone with charger, water, food, toiletries, and any necessary medicine (for longer trips or when driving in lightly populated areas)
Learn what to do in a winter emergency
If you are stopped or stalled in wintry weather, follow these safety rules.
- Stay with your car and don’t overexert yourself.
- Put bright markers on the antenna or windows and keep the interior dome light turned on.
- To avoid asphyxiation from carbon monoxide poisoning, don’t run your car for long periods of time with the windows up or in an enclosed space. If you must run your vehicle, clear the exhaust pipe of any snow and run it only sporadically — just long enough to stay warm.