UMATILLA COUNTY, Ore. — Packing high winds, drifting snow and below-zero temperatures, winter ushered in the new year with a vengeance across eastern Oregon.

Snowfall was followed by subzero temperatures and gusts as high as 50 mph that created hazardous conditions in many  parts of Umatilla County.

Pendleton on Dec. 31 had a low of minus 7, the lowest temperature of the month and 3 degrees shy of the record for that date set in 1978.

On Jan. 1 the temperature dropped to minus 5 in Pendleton, 7 degrees higher than the 1979 record of minus 12. Temperatures rose on Jan. 3, with a low of 7 and a high of 41.

Nearby Hermiston on Dec. 31 had a low of 19 and a high of 34, but temperatures in the largest city in eastern Oregon fell Jan. 1 to a  low of minus 8.

In a Jan. 3, interview, Umatilla County Sheriff’s Sgt. Dwight Johnson, manager of the office’s search and rescue team, said he was fatigued after responding to calls all night in the Milton-Freewater area.

Originally from Montana, Johnson said the conditions the night of Jan. 2 were among the worst he’s seen in his career. Snowplows and heavy equipment from the Oregon Department of Transportation and Umatilla County Public Works aided the county team, but vehicles still got stuck as rescue crews attempted to reach isolated or stranded county residents.

Of all the calls, Johnson said they only needed to transport one resident: a woman who got stuck in the snow during a grocery run.

Umatilla County Emergency Manager Tom Roberts said that while the county had responded to snow drifts, mostly on the east side of the county, he hadn’t heard any reports of major property damage.

“We’re hopeful that Mother Nature will play nice,” he said. “But we know that in past years we know she’s played not-so-nice.”

The winter weather shut down schools and services across the region.

West Umatilla County school districts — Hermiston, Umatilla, Stanfield and Echo — resisted closure, but all Morrow County schools and most east side districts canceled classes Jan. 3, the first day back from winter break.

The closed K-12 schools were joined by Blue Mountain Community College, which canceled in-person classes on all of its campuses, and all state offices in Umatilla County except the courts.

The Oregon Department of Transportation  closed Interstate 84 east of Pendleton and Highway 11 between Pendleton and Milton-Freewater. Both Roberts and ODOT spokesman Tom Strandberg encouraged residents to stay home and travel only if necessary.

Strandberg said there were times during the evening of Jan. 2 when ODOT had to call off plows because low visibility meant the plows were moving too slow to effectively remove snow and ice. He discouraged residents from going around road closure barriers, an issue that has happened in the past.

“We just want people to be safe,” he said.

Based on forecasts, the weather won’t get any warmer in the coming days.

Marilyn Lohman, a forecaster with the weather service’s Pendleton office, said more precipitation is anticipated, and it could come in the form of rain and snow or a mix. Lohman said the area should see a break on Jan. 4, but a warm front with moisture is due in eastern Oregon by midweek.

Where the moisture and cold air will meet exactly still is unknown, but Lohman said drier, colder weather will arrive next weekend.