The most recent winter storm over Elgin adds an additional 2 inches of snow Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021. Snow- and ice-covered branches have been a cause for weather-related power outages across the state.

LA GRANDE — Winter weather storms will continue to deliver more snow in the Grande Ronde Valley through Friday.

While not record breaking, a few sites already have landed in the top 10 range, according to the National Weather Service.

Cove has received near record snow totals. The National Weather Service reported Cove received 22.6 inches of snow from Thursday to Monday, Feb. 11-15 — with 15.4 inches falling Feb. 13-15, its 10th highest three-day total ever.

And from Feb. 12-15, Cove received 18.2 inches of snow, its sixth highest four-day total ever.

“It was an impressive amount over the five days,” said Dan Slagle, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Pendleton “We usually get one system and then a break, but this is multiple days of more moderate snow.”

Other noteworthy local totals include 28.8 inches from a site 9.8 miles north of Elgin from Feb. 11-17, and 12.5 inches of snow in Union from Feb. 11-17. Reports from La Grande were not available at press time.

Wallowa County also received its share of snow during a similar time frame, with Wallowa reporting 16.7 inches and Lostine reporting 12.5 inches from Feb. 11-17.

Tollgate, which has already received plenty of snow over the week, could gain another 8-12 inches as the week ends, with more coming over the weekend. Severe winter weather conditions, high winds and drifting snow there led the Oregon Department of Transportation to close Highway 204 between milepost 0 near Weston and milepost 39 near Elgin.

ODOT reported the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 16, crews were working to clear as much snow as possible, focusing on the highway lanes.

While Tollgate is popular for winter recreation, Sno-Park parking areas are a lower priority, the press release stated, and crews will not plow the sites by the time the highway opens. Once the route is open, drivers can expect narrow lanes, limited shoulder space and up to 10-foot-high snowbanks adjacent to some highway sections.

ODOT District 13 Manager Ace Clark in the press release stated there is little to no parking in Sno Parks next to Highway 204, and visitors should expect deep snow in the parking areas off the highway. He also warned about parking on the side of the highway in areas not designated for parking.

Those locations are not viable alternatives and “will significantly slow our snow removal operations,” he said. “It will also create a hazard in the low visibility conditions.”

Weather forecasts call for continued snow. ODOT requested everyone avoid the Tollgate Highway area until conditions improve. ODOT will plow Sno-parks and designated parking after other critical sections are clear and safe.

For updated conditions, continue to check TripCheck.com or call 800-977-6368.

The weather is winding down, Slagle said, but he expected another weather system to enter the Grande Ronde Valley in the coming days. Most of the storm will hit higher elevations, but a few inches will accumulate in La Grande and surrounding areas.

“Later Thursday through early Friday,” Slagle said, “is when we can start to see another round of snow.”

The NWS predicted the Grande Ronde Valley will receive a moderate amount of snow the next two days, with 1-3 inches of snow from the evening of Thursday through early Friday, Feb. 18-19, according to Slagle. After Friday, snowfall should cease as temperatures rise into the 40s.

The Weather Service has forecast a high temperature of 34 degrees Thursday is La Grande and a low of 30. Friday’s high temperature could reach 40 in La Grande with a low of 30. Saturday looks about the same, with a high of 39 and the low 29.

Across the state, the winter weather had left tens of thousands without power as ice- and snow-covered trees came crashing down through power lines.

— Observer news clerk Lisa Kelly contributed to this report.