Photo from kgw.com viewer Heather Chapin

Snow blankets the Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge.

People living above 500 feet in the Portland and Vancouver Metro areas awoke to snow early Monday morning, as a blustery new weather system hovered over the Northwest. White flakes fell in areas stretching from Portland's West Hills, Tualatin, Hillsboro and Salem to Battle Ground and Corbett.

In addition, icy conditons caused havoc on some roads. The St. John's Bridge was closed for about an hour around sunrise, due to ice build-up. But the bridge was re-opened after crews spread de-icer on the roadway. And a 6 a.m. multi-vehicle pileup on Highway 219 at Wolsbarn was also possibly caused by slick roads.

"I predict, below that (500 feet) it's going to be rain and snow mixed, unless you get snow briefly, briefly on the valley floor," KGW Meteorologist Dave Salesky said. "It's a different story though, from about 500 feet and higher. That's where we'll likely see one to three inches of accumulated snow... although by midday or so, snow will only be sticking above 1,000 feet."

He added that the Gorge, the Coast Range and the Cascades would all get snowfall accumulations.

On Sunday, the National Weather Service issued a Snow Advisory for the Portland area that was to remain in effect from Monday at 2 a.m. through Tuesday at 6 p.m.

According to the National Weather Service, accumulations of 1 to 2 inches were possible above 500 to 1000 feet later Sunday, with possible accumulations of 1 to 3 inches above 500 feet on Monday, and accumulations up to an inch below 500 feet on Monday. Additional accumulations of 1 to 3 inches were possible on Monday night, with the greatest amounts above 500 feet.

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Residents in the Columbia Gorge awoke Sunday to find up to six inches of snow on the ground.

At the Routsen household in The Dalles, Rebecca Routsen was awakened by her three-year-old, saying: "It's Christmas, it's snowing outside. Get up. Get up!"

In Parkdale, Elise Cain reported at least five inches of snow fell overnight. Several inches of snow were also reported at the top of Skyline Blvd in Portland's West Hills.

Snow continued to pile up in Oregon's mountain passes during the entire holiday weekend. Ski Bowl opened for the season Saturday. All the state's ski areas are now open except Willamette Pass, which is scheduled to open on Thursday, and Mt. Hood Meadows.

Access to Mt. Hood Meadows was cut off when heavy rains triggered landslides that closed Highway 35. Crews hope to re-open Highway 35 in mid-December.

Meanwhile, Portland transportation crews spent the weekend gearing up, putting chains on sanding trucks and snowplows and de-icing trucks, just in case snow sticks in the Portland area.

Salesky warned that the concerns wouldn't let up Monday. He said by Monday night and Tuesday morning, conditions will get "really cold, with everywhere dropping below freezing."

"The real question now is whether the weather will give us enough moisture to work with. If so, we'll see sticking snow on the Valley floor. If not, it's just a cold one," he explained.