Community Food Bank to open Saturday after being closed all week
Update midnight Thursday: All Southern Oregon University classes, events and activities are closed Friday, Feb. 7, due to forecasts of additional snowfall overnight and in the morning, according to a notice posted on the SOU website Thursday. The Hawk Dining Commons will operate as normal.
Schools in the Ashland School District will also be closed Friday, Feb. 7, “due to inclement weather and significant snow accumulation,” according to a notice on the district website Thursday. “For everyone’s safety, all schools will be closed, and all athletics and extracurricular activities are also canceled.”

Community Food Bank to open Saturday
After remaining closed all week in accordance with its policy to close when Ashland schools close, the Ashland Community Food Bank will be open Saturday, Feb. 8, at 560 Clover Lane, Ashland. Hours were not included in the Food Bank’s announcement, but usual hours d “General Manager, Andrew Gast, has spoken directly with the Regional President of Pacific Power who is estimating the power returning to our Ski Area sometime before the early morning hours.uring the week and on third Saturdays are 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Chains required on Siskiyou Pass
Interstate 5 over Siskiyou Pass remained open late Thursday night, but chains were required on all vehicles as of 7 p.m. Thursday, excluding four-wheel drive vehicles unless towing.

Mt. Ashland may — or may not — open Friday
Mt. Ashland Ski Area remained without electric power late Thursday night. “General Manager, Andrew Gast, has spoken directly with the Regional President of Pacific Power who is estimating the power returning to our Ski Area sometime before the early morning hours,” according to a ski area post at 8:20 p.m. Thursday. Updates will be posted on the ski are website as they become available.

Snow expected to stop by early Friday
Snowfall overnight Thursday into Friday morning could leave an accumulation of 2-4 inches, according to the National Weather Service forecast late Thursday. After that, Friday’s forecast for Ashland calls for “Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 39.”
Chance of more snow is put at just 10 percent late Friday night and at 20 percent early Saturday morning. After that, Saturday is expected to be partly cloudy and Sunday mostly sunny. A slight chance of snow showers comes back into the forecast Tuesday.


Tree of the Year loses branches
A towering Monterey cypress by the Briscoe School building at the corner of North Main and Laurel streets has lost a significant number of branches due to the weight of accumulated snow. The tree was Ashland’s Tree of the Year in 1988. The tree was planted in 1905 by Ross Eliason, an early Ashlander and an active member of the First Methodist Church across the street from the Monterey cypress tree. For more, see Peter Finkle’s article on the tree’s history by clicking here.
— Bert Etling

More info
For updated highway conditions, click here to go to TripCheck.com
For updated information about Rogue Valley Transit District (RVTD) bus service, click here to go to rvtd.org
To see the Ashland snowplow map, click here.
For updated info about Mt. Ashland Ski Area, click here.




Update 11 p.m. Wednesday: Due to “significant safety concerns” and the need to give staff time to prepare facilities for reopening, Ashland School District schools will remain closed Thursday, Feb. 6, district Superintendent Joseph Hattrick said in an email to district families Wednesday evening.
“With freezing temperatures expected overnight and another weather system arriving Thursday, the risks remain high,” Hattrick said in the letter. “With temperatures expected to drop overnight, any water or snow on the roads will likely freeze, creating hazardous conditions. The foothills are still heavily snowed in, which means buses will not be able to safely navigate those areas, and it will be challenging for families and staff to do so as well.”
Days previously cut from school schedule to save money may be used as snow makeup days, rather than extending the school year into June, Hattrick added.
Southern Oregon University will delay opening for two hours Thursday, according to a notice posted on its website. The Hawk dining facility will operate on normal working hours, all other classes, events, and activities will resume at 10 a.m., it said.
Storm warning issued for Thursday evening
A winter storm warning and winter storm advisory were both issued Wednesday evening by the National Weather Service for an area including Ashland. The warning, which applies to areas above 2,000-foot elevation, says heavy snow is expected, with total snow accumulations between 4 and 7 inches with up to 10 inches in higher terrain.
For the winter weather advisory for areas below 2,000 feet, snow is expected down to valley floors with a total snow accumulations between 2 and 4 inches overnight.
Both the warning and advisory are effective from 4 p.m. Thursday to 10 a.m. Friday.
Downtown Ashland is at about 2,000-foot elevation.
Parks closure forces Community Peace Meal move
The Community Peace Meal will start at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, at the Geos Institute at 84 4th St. due to the closure of Ashland Parks in the inclement weather, according to a Facebook post by Vanessa Houk.
Doors may open sooner. Check her Facebook page for further updates.
Bus service resumes Thursday
Rogue Valley Transportation District will resume bus service Thursday after suspending all routes due to inclement weather, according to a post on the RVTD website. Service may be reduced if conditions worsen and riders are encouraged to follow RVTD on social media for the most up to date information, according to the post.
Trash pickup proceeding, but delayed
Recology has announced that all services will be delayed through the remainder of the week due to the weather, according to a post on its website. Ashland residents should put cans out to the curb to allow drivers to continue to attempt to catch up as they are able, the post said.
The Valley View Transfer Station is expected to operate at normal hours beginning Thursday, 7:30 a.m., the post said.
The recycling center will also be open regular hours beginning 9 a.m. Thursday.
Weather shelter open all day for the duration
The city of Ashland’s severe weather shelter will now be open 24/7 until the end of the ongoing snow storm, according to a Nixle message sent out Tuesday evening. After the weather event is determined to be concluded, the shelter will operate from 7 p.m. to 9 a.m. nightly through March 31, the message said.
Senior Center closed until Monday
The Ashland Parks & Recreation Senior Center will be reopening Monday, Feb. 10, due to the inclement weather, according to a post on the city of Ashland’s Facebook page. Food & Friends of Southern Oregon may operate a lunch program Thursday and Friday; anyone interested in attending is advised to call the program for updates at 541-734-9505.
Ashland parks will remain closed until further notice as crews continue to work to remove downed branches and other debris.
Mt. Ashland remains closed Thursday
Repair work on weather-related damage to its plumbing system that knocked its water supply system offline continued over the regularly scheduled closed days of Tuesday and Wednesday, but the Mt. Ashland Ski Area will also need to close Thursday, it said in a post on its website Wednesday. Refunds will be issued to all individuals with reservations for Feb. 6.
— Morgan Rothborne and Bert Etling
Ashland parks closed for debris removal
Update 12:45 p.m. Wednesday: The city of Ashland has announced a temporary closure of all parks due to storm damage, according to a release from the city. The closure will be in place until further notice while staff work to remove fallen branches and other hazards caused by heavy snowfall.
“The heavy snow continues to cause trees to fall and large branches to snap, creating dangerous conditions. We appreciate your patience as we work to ensure the parks are safe and ready to reopen,” the release said.
Avoid Exit 14 offramp on I-5 southbound
Travelers on Interstate 5 are urged to use Exit 19 or Exit 21 to get to Highway 99 instead of getting off at Exit 14, according to a release from the Oregon Department of Transportation Wednesday morning. There’s congestion and a traffic back-up in the southbound lanes in the Ashland area. Semitrucks should not use the detour, however.
From noon to 7 p.m. Wednesday, travelers should expect slippery and potentially hazardous road conditions and additional snowfall, according to a 2:21 a.m. alert posted on Tripcheck.com.
Light snow is expected throughout the valley below 1,500 feet, while a total snow accumulation of 2 inches is possible.
No bus service Wednesday
The Rogue Valley Transportation District will not operate any bus lines Wednesday due to the inclement weather and resulting road conditions.
Limited trash service resuming
Recology is resuming some routes Wednesday, on a limited basis according to road conditions, according to a post on the Recology website. Customers with impacted services are advised to leave their cans on the curb and drivers will get to the remaining cans as possible. The Ashland recycling center will remain closed through Wednesday while the Valley View Transfer Station will open at noon.
Avoid driving if possible
The city of Ashland issued a renewed request to residents to stay home if possible. All travel is discouraged — including walking — due to the icy conditions of roads. Extra space between other cars, smaller steps on foot and a slow pace for all travel is advised, according to a post on the city’s Facebook page.
State offices are closed throughout Jackson County Feb. 5, according to a release.
— Morgan Rothborne and Bert Etling
Update 6:30 p.m. Tuesday: Interstate 5 over the Siskiyou Summit has reopened both northbound and southbound, according to an ODOT news alert at 6:24 p.m. and the TripCheck.com website. Winter conditions remain. Chains are required. The road has been closed since about 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4.

— Bert Etling
Power restored downtown and nearby neighborhoods after outage
Update 6:10 Tuesday: A power outage affecting central Ashland was restored less than hour after it was initially reported at 5:25 p.m., according to a post at 6:09 p.m. by the city of Ashland. The cause was not immediately reported.
Ashland schools and Southern Oregon University will again be closed Wednesday, Feb. 5.
A scheduled Ashland Parks & Recreation Commission study session will go ahead virtually starting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5.
The Ashland Rotary Centennial Ice Rink will also be closed Wednesday, Feb. 5, according to a post on the city of Ashland’s Facebook page.
— Morgan Rothborne and Bert Etling
Travel not recommended Wednesday, roads may be icy
Update 4:30 p.m. Tuesday: Ashland roads and sidewalks are expected to be icy Wednesday and all non-essential travel is discouraged — including walking — according to a post on the city of Ashland’s Facebook page.
“If you have to travel, please be extremely cautious,” the post said.
Good cautions include slowing down and allowing more space between cars while driving and walking with smaller steps, the post said.
Because water expands as it freezes, the inclement weather could cause some pipes to burst, according to information on the Red Cross website. Pipes exposed to severe cold, such as outdoor hose bibs, swimming pool lines, or water sprinkler lines are most susceptible but
supply pipes in unheated interior areas such as basements, crawl spaces, attics or garages are also at risk.
If water supply lines are in a garage, keep the doors closed, the website said. Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow air to circulate around the plumbing or let water drip from faucets served by exposed pipes. Resisting turning down the heat at night can also help prevent burst pipes.
Ashland’s low temperature overnight Tuesday is forecast to be 24 degrees, followed by a high 0f 38 on Wednesday and low of 26 Wednesday night
— Morgan Rothborne and Bert Etling
Interstate 5 closed from milemarker 1 to Exit 11
Update, 3:30 p.m. Tuesday: The Oregon Department of Transportation has issued a conditional closure at Interstate 5 over the Siskiyou Pass due to the snow storm, according to a release from ODOT and an alert on Tripcheck. Travelers are asked to use an alternate route.

Due to the inclement weather, Recology has announced delayed services throughout the remainder of the week, according to a statement on its webpage.
While drivers will be working to catch up after pick-up routes were suspended Tuesday, “pick-up Wednesday will be delayed to later in the morning and warmer temperatures, impacted customers are instructed to please leave your carts at the curb and available for service and our drivers will get to you when possible,” the statement said.
The Valley View Transfer and Recycling center will be open Wednesday to the end of the week but with potentially delayed start times due to the weather.
The Rogue Valley Transportation District has announced bus routes will stop at 6 p.m. Tuesday, according to a statement on the RVTD webpage.
Routes 1X, 2, 17, 25, 26, 27, 30, 63, 61, and 21 will not operate at all. Additional route cancellation or schedule changes will be updated on the RVTD webpage Tuesday evening, the statement said.
The city’s snow plows are working away at clearing the Ashland’s streets with priority routes — such as those near Asante Ashland Community Hospital — coming first.
“Our team has been working tirelessly between yesterday, last night and today to keep the streets safe. … All departments are working together to remove snow from the streets, sidewalks, remove downed tree branches/trees on public property and respond to power outages,” wrote city of Ashland Communications Officer Dorinda Cottle.
City staff have been working since the snow began to accumulate, said Deputy Director of Public Works Mike Morrison.
“Our crews have been working around the clock since 3:15 yesterday morning, when the snow was first starting to accumulate. Since then, we have plowed every arterial and collector street in town at least once, and some of them several times,” he said.
Crews have been working their way off the priority roads and into Ashland’s neighborhoods, but as the snow continues to fall, attention is continually redirected to the main priority roads.
“We expect to continue plowing until at least tomorrow afternoon, but that will be determined by the conditions. Maple St. is always the highest priority because of the hospital, it has been plowed several times, we’ve applied cinders several times and earlier today ODOT applied de-icer,” Morrison said Tuesday.
Morrison encouraged Ashland residents to avoid travel if possible as city staff continue to contend with the continuously falling snow. Outside the slick roads, fallen trees are a perpetual problem necessitating larger cooperative effort from staff.
“We’ve had crews from several divisions of public works including water, wastewater, streets and cemeteries all dealing with trees, as well as the electric department and the fire department. All our departments work very well together in situations like this,” he said.
The city’s snow plow routes are available on a map color-coded by priority. Incidents that may require attention from city departments such as electrical or near-miss traffic accidents can be reported through the city’s website’s see-click-fix page.
Mt. Ashland Ski Area, which closed Monday due to a weather-related water outage, is working on repairs that hopefully will allow it to reopen Thursday as scheduled.
“The damage to the water supply system was a result of an equipment accident caused by unstable snow conditions,” according to a statement posted on the ski area’s website. Portable toilets are being brought in while repairs are made to the ski area’s plumbing system.
— Morgan Rothborne and Bert Etling
City Council meeting canceled
Update, 2:30 p.m. Tuesday: Tuesday evening’s City Council meeting has been canceled due to inclement weather and expected freezing temperatures, the city announced late Tuesday morning. All agenda items scheduled for tonight have been postponed until the next business meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18.
— Bert Etling
Ashland schools, SOU to close Tuesday
Update, 10 p.m. Monday: Ashland School District schools and the Southern Oregon University campus will remain closed Tuesday, Feb. 4, for the second day in a row due to snow causing unsafe conditions, according to notices posted on the respective schools websites on Monday afternoon.
“All SOU Ashland campus operations, classes, and events are cancelled,” read the SOU notice. “The Hawk dining facility will remain open.”
“The Ashland School District will be closed Tuesday, February 4th due to inclement weather and significant snow accumulation,” said the Ashland School District notice. “The latest forecasts predict continued snowfall and hazardous road conditions throughout the day, making travel unsafe. To ensure the safety of our students and staff, all schools will be closed, and all athletics and extracurricular activities are canceled.”
The Ashland Community Food Bank, which follows the school district closure practices, is expected to be closed again Tuesday as it did Monday.
Trash pickup canceled Tuesday
According to the city of Ashland, “Recology Ashland has suspended all collection services on Tuesday, February 4. Routes will resume on Wednesday, February 5. Recology customers with Tuesday service (and those who were not able to be serviced Monday), please leave your carts at the curb and available for service and drivers will get to you once road conditions are safe. The Valley View Transfer Station and Ashland Recycling Center will also be CLOSED on Tuesday, February 4. Operations may be impacted throughout the week as conditions develop.”
City offices will not open until 10 a.m. Tuesday, “due to the weather and unsafe driving conditions,” the city said in the notice.
Bus service trimmed
Route 1A, the express line connecting Medford and Ashland, will not operate Tuesday “due to expected icy and hazardous road conditions,” Rogue Valley Transit District (RVTD) announced Monday evening. Route 10, which also offers service from Ashland to Medford, will operate, but won’t start running until 10 a.m. Tuesday. RVTD plans to decide by 9 a.m. Tuesday whether to suspend all operations for the day.
Limited space at severe weather shelter
“The City of Ashland has opened a severe weather shelter at 2200 Ashland St, which will be available nightly from January 1 through March 31, 2025,” according to a notice on the city website. “The shelter, managed by Rogue Retreat, provides protection from the cold for those in need. Doors open at 7 p.m., with lights out at 10 p.m. Space is limited for this low-barrier, no-frills overnight shelter. Rogue Retreat will coordinate staffing and volunteers. For more information, call 541-499-0880 or visit rogueretreat.org.”
Weather forecast calls for more snow
As of Monday evening, the National Weather Service forecast was calling for accumulation of another 1 to 3 inches overnight, with additional new snow accumulation of another 1 to 3 inches possible Tuesday.
Snow is expected to taper off about 10 p.m. Tuesday, with the chance of snow showers resuming after 4 a.m. Wednesday.
While the chance of snow after that remains in the forecast through Saturday morning, any accumulation totals are expected to be no more than an inch in a day.
Temperatures are expected to remain chilly, with highs of 34, 37, 39, 38 and 40 predicted Tuesday through Saturday, respectively. Lows are forecast to be 19, 26, 26, 21 and 17 Tuesday through Saturday nights, respectively.
— Bert Etling


Update, 6 p.m. Monday: The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office issued a release urging residents to stay home as deputies are already busy responding to accidents, fallen trees and downed power lines throughout the county with the storm projected to worsen into Tuesday, according to a release from the sheriff’s department.
The release urged caution for any travel as much of the county is affected. Multiple vehicle crashes have occurred, including a school bus sliding into a ditch on Griffin Creek Road. The bus was hit head on by another vehicle but no children were on board and no one was harmed, the release said.
“Please use caution if you must venture out into the storm. Stay home if you can as conditions may worsen tomorrow,” the release said.
For updated information on the storm, follow the US National Weather Service Medford office. For any necessary travel, the release directed county residents to visit Tripcheck for updated road advisories.
— Morgan Rothborne
Update, 4 p.m. Monday: A power outage caused by a downed tree is expected to take longer than three hours to restore, according to an Everbridge alert from the city of Ashland. Electrical crews on scene report heavy damage to the lines near Vista and Meade streets. Homes in the hillsides east of Lithia Park are also affected, the alert said.
Traffic flow between Exit 19 and Exit 14 has been restored after a brief closure due to an accident, according to an additional Everbridge alert. The Oregon Department of Transportation advises avoiding the area around Exit 14 due to a back-up of traffic caused by the winter weather, the alert said.
— Morgan Rothborne


Update, 3:30 p.m. Monday:
By Morgan Rothborne, Ashland.news
A fallen tree has caused a power outage in central Ashland, according to an Everbridge alert from the city of Ashland. The outage is affecting the area around Lithia Park and power is expected to be restored within two to three hours, according to a 3:02 p.m. Everbridge update.
An accident between Exit 19 and Exit 14 of Interstate 5 has caused a temporary stop of traffic and altering travel plans is advised, according to an additional Everbridge alert. The Oregon Department of Transportation has staff en route to reopen traffic flow.
This story will be updated as information becomes available. To learn how to sign up for the city’s Everbridge alerts, visit its website.
Email Ashland.news reporter Morgan Rothborne at [email protected].

ORIGINAL STORY:
Ashland.news staff report
Ashland School District and Southern Oregon University closed Monday due to snowfall, as did the Ashland Public Library, the Ashland Community Food Bank, and the Ashland office of the Department of Motor Vehicles. Mt. Ashland Ski Area also closed due to “water outage.”
The Ashland City Council’s study session Monday evening was also postponed to Feb. 19.
The city’s four snowplows will plow streets in accordance with its snowplow map.
The National Weather Service on Monday morning added a winter weather advisory for areas below 2,000-foot elevation to the winter storm warning already in place for areas at 2,000 feet and above.

The advisory says snow accumulations of between 1 and 3 inches of wet snow can be expected, with heavy snow measuring between 2 and 10 inches at higher elevations.
Both the advisory and warning expire at 10 p.m. Monday.

The school district said “to ensure the safety of our students and staff,” all schools will be closed and all athletics and activities canceled. SOU cancelled all campus operations, classes and events Monday. The Hawk dining facility remained open.
Highway 66, the Greensprings Highway, closed early Monday due to winter conditions. It remained open to local traffic.
On Interstate 5 over the Siskiyou Pass, chains are required on all vehicles except four-wheel drive vehicles, unless towing.
A chance of snow or rain is forecast every day through Friday for the Ashland area.
Email Ashland.news at [email protected].


