You probably do not think of Seattle and snow. So far January has proved otherwise as the most recent winter storm hit the area. Is 2020 proving to be the year of the Snowpocalypse?
The last storm in mid-January brought a new layer of snow to the northern Olympic Peninsula, with more than a foot of snow. However, the Puget Sound Metro area was spared. You may think of our beautiful region as free of the white stuff, but that is not always the case.
Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories were in effect from the Cascades of Washington and Oregon, eastward to the Central Rockies during this time, as they were issued by the National Weather Service.
Seattle Was Spared
The Seattle area had been under winter weather advisories until late Monday, as several inches of snow was expected. However, this did not happen, although weather made for icy travel and treacherous road conditions. Tuesday held flurries, and snow showers were seen in towns south of Everett and the Straight of Juan de Fuca.
Other Areas Got It
Bellevue and Kirkland each got approximately 2 inches of snow, while Everett got about 6-8 inches in total, much more than expected. Bainbridge Island also reported getting 6 inches of snow.
According to KUOW:
“The north end got … 1-3 inches,” said Gary Schnieder with the National Weather Service. “Everett, that area got more than expected. The south end, the cold air didn’t really make it down there and the convergence zone stayed north. There were probably some snow flakes down there, but they probably didn’t get any accumulation.”
Bellingham had temperatures of 21 degrees, while snow showers were expected through Thursday.
Where’s the Power?
Thousands of residents lost power on Monday as 14,000 people were without service in the area.
Traffic in the Snow
Washington State Patrol was on high alert during the storms. Trooper Heather Axtman reported that they responded to 40 collisions between the times of 5 to 8 p.m. on Sunday night. One thing noted was that many of those vehicles were all-wheel drive.
Five trees blocked the roadways were removed by WSP as they helped motorists who were stranded. Troopers were even involved in driving a woman’s car to the next exit when she became afraid to drive in the snow.
It was reported that drivers spent a frigid night trapped on U.S. 2; this was between Stevens Pass and Skykomish. Trees had fallen and took down power lines west of Skykomish. Avalanche danger also caused the closure of the highway below Stevens Pass.
To add to the misery, several busses that were carrying students from middle and high schools became stuck in the snow in Skykomish.
S’No School Today
Area schools received a day of freedom as they closed the following schools: Bellevue, Everett, Edmons, Issaquah, Lake Washington, Lake Stevens, Mukilteo, Northshore, Snohomish, Snoqualmie Valley, Shoreline and North and Central Kitsap.
Seattle reported delays, as did Marysville, Kent, Mercer Island, UW Seattle and Bothell.
Sledding and More
Fun was part of the snow event, as youngsters took to the greens (or whites) of Seattle’s Gasworks Park, where for a while, sledding was the game.
Whether you call it a Snowpocalypse, Snomeggadon or Snowzilla, Seattle had some on the white stuff in abundance during mid-January of 2020.
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