Oregon Public Broadcasting

Snow continues to pile up throughout the Northwest, closing some highways and creating problems for towns that have already used up their snow removal budgets. Pete Springer reports.

Heavy snow prompted Washington Governor Chris Gregoire to declare a state of emergency in eleven counties last week.

In Oregon, Governor Kulongoski declared a state of emergency in Marion and Lake Counties to help free up state resources for snow removal. 

But now the question is where to put that snow.  Caro Johnson is the executive director of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce in Lakeview.

Caro Johnson: “We have mounds of snow 6-8 feet high on most corners.  Our roads are getting narrower and narrower which is a phenomenon I never expected, but as they plow, there’s no place to put the snow.”

In other parts of the state, extreme weather prompted ODOT to close Highway 20 east of Sweet Home, and roads in most of eastern and central Oregon remain icy and slick.

And more heavy snow is in the forecast for Tuesday.