PORTLAND -- After the morning's blanket of white, snow levels will rise during the day Thursday and by Friday, it will be back to all rain in the Portland Metro area, according to KGW meteorologist Rod Hill.
Some spots could freeze overnight, but few showers were expected until well into Friday. The rain could linger into Saturday, Hill said.
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The Salem area was hit the hardest with heavy snowfall Thursday morning. In Polk County, a motorist died after sliding off Oregon 22, west of Oregon 223. Oregon 22 was shut down in the morning hours, with detours in place.
ODOT and Oregon State Police also reported a number of spin outs and stalled cars on highways that crossed the Coast Range.
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Enough snow fell in Salem overnight Wednesday to shut down every school in the district. In Portland, buses were on snow routes.
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