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Studded tire season extended to mid-April in Oregon, Washington

The traditional deadline of March 31 has been bumped to April 15.

Winter-like conditions persisting into spring have prompted the Oregon Department of Transportation to extend the deadline for drivers to remove their studded tires.

The traditional deadline of March 31 has been bumped to April 15. Washington also extended the deadline to April 15.

"The forecast suggests Oregon’s mountain passes will receive some significant snow in the next few weeks," Luci Moore, ODOT engineer, said in a statement. "But we ask that if you’re not planning to travel in those areas, please don’t wait until the last minute to remove your studded tires."

Photos: It's spring and still snowing in Oregon

A spring snowstorm was expected to drop between 6 and 10 inches of snow in the central Cascades this weekend, making travel in the mountain passes difficult.

Related: Heavy snow expected in Cascades, Coast Range

Weather stations reported 3 inches of new snow on Highway 22 in the Santiam Pass Friday morning.

ODOT said this is the fifth time in the last 16 years the deadline has been extended beyond the end of March. Three of those extensions were from 2010-12.

Drivers who do not heed the deadline face a possible Class C traffic violation.

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