Oregon climatologist says severe ice storms to occur more often in future despite rising temps

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The effects of climate change are expected to bring more freezing rain and severe ice storms to the Willamette Valley, the foothills of the Cascades and the Columbia River Gorge in the next 50 to 75 years, according to the 2025 Oregon Climate Assessment.

The ice storms are expected to result from a 5-degree increase in Oregon’s average temperature by 2074, and a 7.6-degree increase by 2100. Oregon State University Climatologist Larry O’Neill told KOIN 6 that scientists...