Near Portland, ice slowly began to melt in areas south of the city as warmer temperatures and rain arrived Thursday. But a National Weather Service advisory through Friday warned of freezing rain and gusting winds of up to 40 mph for parts of the state. Most Portland-area school districts canceled classes for a third straight day due to slick roads and water damage from burst frozen pipes.

On Wednesday, a power line fell on a parked car in northeastern Portland, killing three people and injuring a baby during an ice storm that made driving in parts of the Pacific Northwest treacherous.

The National Weather Service said that freezing rain could return to the Columbia River Gorge, the Portland and Vancouver areas, Oregon Coast Range and north Oregon Cascades sometime Thursday afternoon. And that in turn could cause more trees to come down, spurring more power outages.

An ice storm warning is in effect along the western gorge, with up to 4 inches of snow and a half-inch of ice possible through 10 a.m. Friday.

In the greater Portland and Vancouver metro areas and along the Coast Range, a winter weather advisory lasts through 10 a.m. Friday.

The National Weather Service warns the area could see about another quarter-inch of ice starting Thursday afternoon.

Meanwhile, travelers saw some relief as Interstate 84 reopened between Troutdale and Hood River, with chains or traction tires required. The freeway remained closed Thursday morning between Pendleton and La Grande. The Oregon Department of Transportation would prefer that people to stay off the roads if possible until conditions improve.

Dozens of school districts were also closed again Thursday, including Portland Public Schools, and Beaverton and Vancouver school districts.

When will it warm up?

“It’s going to be a very gradual increase on Friday,” Tom Schuldt, NWS meteorologist told the Oregonian about Portland’s weather. “But by the afternoon hours the metro area will very likely be above freezing.”

Of course, for people in the area who have been dealing with overwhelming winter weather for over a week, and for kids who haven’t been in school since last Friday, that might be cold comfort.

And, added Schuldt, “Even yesterday we rose into the mid-30s and didn’t see much of an improvement.”