Intense winter weather means tragedy for cattle farmers. Find out more here.

By Anna King (Northwest News Network)

In a remote part of southeast Oregon, about the only oasis for a hundred-mile stretch of highway is the Oasis Cafe in Juntura. Travelers come in for hot coffee served in hulking Styrofoam cups, and to gather near the wood stove.

Rancher Glenn Harris, from Drewsy, said this spring’s bitter cold has been devastating for newborn calves.

“We had about two feet of snow at least, on top of five or six inches of ice,” Harris said of a storm last month. “Those calves are…

Winter isn’t finished with Oregon’s mountains.

A winter weather advisory has been issued into Tuesday due to close to a foot of snow forecast on Oregon’s Cascade Mountain passes. Some snow could fall as low as 1,000 feet.

In general, the system is forecast to bring 3 to 11 inches of snow, according to the warning, but amounts could be larger in isolated areas.

Winds also will be strong, up to 35 mph, meaning travel could be difficult, the advisory said.

“The convective nature of…

A southern Oregon ski area will extend its season. Find out more here.

By Ian Wood / Unofficial Networks

Significant snowfall in Western North America means that a lot of ski resorts will be extending their season. KTVL reports that Mt. Ashland Ski Area in Oregon announced they’ll be extending their season by two weeks. Their new projected closing date is April 23rd. This is thanks to a 122-inch snowpack depth at their mid-station and summit, and a total season snowfall of 278″.

They’ve been able to surpass their all-time record visitation for a season of 106,003 visits with 106,762 visits based on their last recorded total.

Andrew Gast, who…

I-84 in Eastern Oregon is closed in both directions this morning. Find out more here.

KATU, LA GRANDE, Ore. — Friday morning I-84 was closed in both directions between Exit 265 and Exit 304 due to winter weather conditions, including multiple commercial trucks that had spun out on the ice and blocked the road.

ODOT said crews had been working through the night to clear away the blocking vehicles and get the interstate open for traffic.

By 8 a.m. ODOT said that many of the trucks blocking lanes have been moved, and that crews were plowing routes to prepare for opening the lanes.

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE BY KATU NEWS HERE

Central Oregon’s drought conditions remain the worst on record. Learn more here.

By Rachel Ramirez, CNN

Cate Casad started noticing the for-sale signs pop up over the last year on farms around Central Oregon, which has been mired in water shortages amid a yearslong megadrought.

Casad and her husband, Chris, are first-generation farmers and ranchers who started off with just a few acres of land east of Bend, then moved north in 2017 to scale up their farm. Now, the couple manages around 360 acres of farmland in Jefferson County, where they grow organic food and raise cattle, heritage breed hogs…

Low-elevation snow arrived in western Oregon mostly as expected Tuesday morning, bringing a dusting to a half inch of snow in Salem, Eugene and other Mid-Willamette Valley cities while dropping considerably more in the foothills and mountains.

Most roads remained warm enough to avoid sticking snow and traffic is largely not impacted in the Portland, Salem and Eugene corridor on Interstate 5. South Salem gained about a half-inch of snow and there is some roadside snow along I-5.

Wet flurries are forecast in the higher elevations of Willamette Valley cities and the foothills until about 10…

Skyline Sports Complex in Bend has a groomed cross-country ski area. Find out more here.

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Thanks to recent snowfall and help from volunteers, the Bend Park and Recreation District has a groomed cross-country ski area at Skyline Sports Complex in Bend.

The ski grooming at Skyline Sports Complex is done by community volunteers in partnership with Mount Bachelor Sports Education Foundation and BPRD.

Currently, there is a one-kilometer loop groomed for skiing, no track set. The groomed area is flat and users are asked to do their part to maintain the groomed surfaces by not walking or bringing dogs through the area.

“We need everyone’s cooperation to help keep this in-town skiing opportunity for…

The Under the Snow exhibit at High Desert Museum opens Dec. 17. Learn more here!

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — In the depth of winter, a deep layer of snow quiets the High Desert’s forests. But under the surface, a secret world comes to life. A new High Desert Museum exhibit dives into the snow, where voles, shrews, insects and porcupines build a matrix of tunnels to survive the winter and hide from the predators that lurk just above the surface.

Under the Snow opens at the Museum on Saturday, Dec. 17. The original exhibit explores the “subnivium” environment, what scientists call this seasonal habitat. In the subnivium, the temperature stays a toasty 32-degrees Fahrenheit, which protects plants and animals from the winter’s frigid temperatures.

The annual Turkey Trot has moved to Nov. 26. Learn more here.

Central Oregon Community College (COCC) is holding its 23nd annual Turkey Trot, a 5K fundraising run/walk, at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 26, at the Bend campus’s track.*Date Changed to Nov. 26 Due to Icy Conditions*

Free to students, the Turkey Trot event is $15 for preregistration entrants and includes a T-shirt, prizes and snacks. Day-of-race registration is $20 and will take place in the Mazama Gym at 9:30 a.m. Register at cocc.edu/departments/sports/races.aspx.

This year’s event introduces the free “Toddler Trot,” which starts at 10 a.m. and involves two race categories: for ages 3 years and younger and 5 years and younger (no online registration).…

Oregon’s commercial crab season has been delayed. Learn more here.

By John Ross Ferrara – KOIN

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The opening date for Oregon’s ocean commercial Dungeness crab season has been delayed until Dec. 16, and possibly longer, after pre-season testing revealed high levels of domoic acid and underweight crabs.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced the delay on Nov. 18, stating that it will prevent wasted crab meat and assure a high-quality product for consumers.