Portland Snow, 2023

A rare late-afternoon snowstorm overtook Portland in late February. By nightfall, the city transformed into a bright landscape deep in texture in the shadows of reflected artificial light. This gallery explores the temporarily-altered urban landscape from Downtown Portland along Terwilliger Parkway to Hillsdale.

The transit mall in Downtown Portland was at a standstill without a single bus or MAX train traversing 5th Ave. for hours on end.
The few cars remaining on Downtown streets did not make it far before reaching roadblocks on every major arterial.
Four inches of heavy snow fell by 8pm.
Even alternative transportation options were grounded.
The blanket of snow transformed the Duniway Park track and field into a tranquil monolithic landscape.
Terwilliger Parkway was lined with a static stream of cars leaving the OHSU Marquam Hill Campus.
The blanket of white notably brightened the night sky.
Terwilliger Parkway’s path was articulated with numerous pairs of footprints.
Cars entering the OHSU campus were also gridlocked as a result of the slick roads.
Terwilliger Parkway became quieter south of OHSU.
Snow continued falling around 9pm as most remaining at the Chart House restaurant elected to wait out the storm.
Terwilliger Parkway was also gridlocked from Chart House to Capitol Highway on the south.
The snow deepened further along Cheltenham Street.
Capitol Highway was deserted through Hillsdale, other than a single long-stranded bus.
Uplights accentuated a snow-decorated tree in front of Seasons and Regions restaurant.
Bright sunlight following the storm began the meltoff two days later.
Several inches of snow remained on the approach to the Red Electric Bridge.
The creek below the Red Electric Bridge began to show through the snow as runoff continued.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *