A winter weather advisory was issued at 2:25 p.m. Friday by the National Weather Service, effective from 5 a.m. Saturday through 4 p.m. Sunday for the Blue Mountains of northern Oregon.

“Total snow accumulations of 6 to 10 inches above 4,500 feet, with lower accumulations between 3,500 and 4,500 feet,” the weather service said. “The heaviest snowfall is expected Saturday evening and Sunday.”

“Travel may be difficult due to periods of moderate to heavy snow,” the weather service explains. “Slow down and be careful when traveling.”

Mastering winter roads: tips from the weather service for safe winter travel

Winter conditions can make driving dangerous, leading to more than 6,000 weather-related vehicle fatalities and more than 480,000 injuries each year. When traveling in snow or freezing rain, prioritize safety by slowing down. At temperatures near freezing, it is safer to assume that the roads are icy and adjust your driving accordingly. Be careful of ice accumulating on power lines or tree branches, which can cause breakage and fall hazards. If possible, avoid driving in such conditions. If you must venture out, opt for routes with fewer trees and power lines. Never touch a downed power line and call 911 immediately if you encounter one. Here are more winter driving tips from the weather service:

Share your travel plans:

When traveling out of town in dangerous winter weather, let family or friends know your destination, planned route, and estimated time of arrival.

Prepare your vehicle:

Make sure your gas tank is full and equip your vehicle with essential winter supplies, such as a windshield scraper, jumper cables, small shovel, flashlight, cell phone, blanket, very warm clothing, drinking water and non-perishable, high-calorie foods.

Stay calm when you are stuck:

If you get stuck, stay calm. Tell someone about your situation and location. Avoid trying to walk to safety. Attach a cloth to your car’s antenna or rearview mirror to signal that you need help. Make your vehicle more visible by using the dome light and turn signals.

Pay attention to snow plows:

Keep an eye out for snowplows and give them plenty of room to pass. Only pass a plow when you have a clear view of the road ahead.

Check road conditions:

Before you embark on your trip, check current road conditions to make informed travel decisions.

Stay safe on winter roads with these valuable winter driving tips from the weather service and reduce the risk of accidents in harsh weather conditions.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.