Weather service issues winter advisory for Ashland effective through 11 a.m. Saturday
By Bert Etling, Ashland.news
Snow levels as low as 1,000 feet are expected Thursday and Friday nights, according to a National Weather Service advisory issued Thursday morning and updated Friday afternoon.
Total snow accumulation for Ashland, which is at about 2,000-foot elevation, is forecast to be in the 2-4 inch range, according to the forecast.
The advisory, which remains in effect through 11 a.m. Saturday for areas above 2,000 feet, says snow accumulations in the Prospect area could be 4 to 8 inches, with winds gusting as high as 40 mph.
Travel could be very difficult to impossible, the advisory cautions. Motorists are advised to slow down and allow extra time to reach their destination. Those who must travel should check tripcheck.com for latest road conditions.
Snow levels will rise to 1,500 feet Friday afternoon, according to NWS, then fall back to 1,000 feet Friday night. Rain and snow showers will continue through Saturday before things begin to clear up on Sunday, followed by another system arriving Monday.
Forecast highs Friday through Wednesday in Ashland are, respectively, 45, 43, 49, 49, 52 and 52. Lows are expected to be 30, 28, 33, 35 and 33 Friday through Tuesday nights.
Emergency shelter open
The city of Ashland opened its emergency weather shelter at at 48 5th St. Wednesday evening and it will remain open through Sunday night, March 26, closing Monday morning.
The shelter opens at 5 p.m. each evening. Doors close for the night at 9 p.m., with lights out at 10 p.m. This is a no-frills shelter, which means individuals should plan on providing their own bedding. Well-behaved pets are welcome. The shelter closes at 9 a.m.
The shelter will have limited food available. There are community meals every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at Pioneer Hall, 73 Winburn Way in Lithia Park.
For additional information or if you are interested in volunteering at the shelter, contact Avram Sacks of Options for Helping Residents of Ashland (OHRA) at 541-220-7307 or 541-631-2235.
The city budgeted $100,000 in the current fiscal year to pay OHRA for operating the shelter, City Manager Joe Lessard said during his manager’s report to the City Council at Tuesday evening’s meeting, and is on track to come out at that amount, depending on the weather. Anywhere from 11 to 34 people have spent the night at the shelter on a given night, he said, with the average coming in at about 25.
To sign up for text alerts with shelter information, text 97520SHELTER to 888777.
Email Ashland.news Executive Editor Bert Etling at betling@ashland.news or call or text him at 541-631-1313.
March 24 update: Story updated to reflect National Weather Service extension of winter weather advisory until 11 a.m. Saturday, per bulletin posted at 1:22 p.m. Friday.
