Welcome to winter
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, December 31st, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – The National Weather Service in Pendleton is reporting that snow and rain could complicate driving on New Year’s Eve and for the rest of the week. Snow is forecast for higher elevations with a total accumulation of up to a foot considered possible.
The forecast for Tollgate shows snow to be 80 to 90 percent likely from New Year’s Eve at least through Sunday. Forecasters urge caution for those traveling in the Blue Mountains of Oregon and Washington.
Every winter, there are new drivers on the road. Pendleton Police Chief Chuck Byram says he acquainted his kids to icy conditions by taking them to practice in a parking lot.
“Let them feel like what it feels like to enter into a front-end slide that you can’t get out of,” he said. “How do you correct out of it, how much brake do you apply, and all of that stuff.”
He said the important part of the parking lot lessons for new winter drivers is helping them to learn not to panic.
