No end in sight

Seven inches of snow in the forecast today

By RYAN PFEIL

H&N Staff Writer

February 2, 2008

H&N photo by Andrew Mariman  José and Luis Serrato shovel snow in front of the

family’s Klamath Falls home. Local schools were closed for the second day Friday.

   Area residents should expect 3 to 7 more inches of snow today, as another winter storm hammers the Klamath Basin . 

   A winter storm watch is in effect until late today, and forecasters predicted a 100 percent chance of snow. Highs should be around 32 and nighttime lows at 25. Winds up to 25 miles per hour also are expected, according to the National Weather Service. 

   Four to 9 inches are expected tonight. 

   “It’s going to be an interesting day,” said meteorologist Jim Bunker. 

   As of Friday, average snow accumulation in the Klamath Basin was about 18 inches, meteorologists said. An additional half-inch was expected to fall Friday night. 

   Public schools, including Klamath Community College , canceled classes for the second consecutive day on Friday. Oregon Institute of Technology remained open. Kingsley Field closed Friday, and Waste Management canceled scheduled trash pickups. 

   The breaks in snowfall Friday gave road crews a chance to clear and reopen rural roads, including Highway 70 between Highway 140 and the town of Bonanza . 

   “That gave us a little trouble down there,” said Peter Murphy of the Oregon Department of Transportation. 

   “The people of Bonanza deserved it, so we did it for them.” 

   Battle on the roads 

   Highway 395 in eastern Klamath County reopened late Thursday, and ODOT crews managed to keep the Midland rest area on Highway 97 open. 

   Crews on Friday continued to clear Highway 62 between Fort Klamath and the Crater Lake junction and Highway 140 near the Nevada border. 

   “It’s been a battle,” Murphy said. “It’s stretched us pretty thin. We’d like to be everywhere at the same time.”

    Chains were still required on Highway 66 and on several spots on Highway 140.  The

chance of snow Sunday is 70 percent , dropping to 20 percent on Monday, according to

NWS officials, and the Klamath Basin may even see some sun. 

   “We’re looking for things to gradually taper off as we start into the work week,” Bunker said.

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