Snow blankets region, making travel dangerous; some roads closed due to many accidents, ice



SEATTLE -- Snow fell across the Puget Sound region Wednesday night, and made roads treacherous.

The National Weather Service said 1 inch of snow had fallen at Sea-Tac Airport as of 10 p.m. "This is only the 5th time in the last 25 years for a 1 inch-snowfall in Seattle after Feb. 15."

The city of Kent tweeted it had "gotten more than the 2 inches predicted" by the National Weather Service.

Others got up to 3 inches.

The snow came down from Everett to Olympia, making roads icy and dangerous. Several police and fire departments said Wednesday night that people should stay home and off the roads and, later, they were forced to close some roads because of accidents, spin-outs and ice.

South King Fire reported a seven-car accident at Highway 18 and southbound Interstate 5 near Federal Way Wednesday night. The agency said it involved about 10 people, but no one was hurt.



That wasn't the only problem area.

The Auburn Police Department tweeted at about 8:30 p.m. that Lake Tapps Parkway was closed in both directions at the hill "due to snow and ice."



The Washington State Patrol said two troopers' patrol cars were struck by a hit-and-run vehicle while they were working on a collision on north State Route 7 just north of 38th in the Tacoma area. "Both troopers thankfully not injured," the State Patrol said.



The Bonney Lake Police Department tweeted, "Many roads/hills have become impassable! Sanding trucks are out. If you don't have to drive, don't!"



North Kitsap Fire and Rescue tweeted, "We're hearing multiple reports of vehicles spinning out on snowy roads around the district tonight. If you can avoid travel tonight, please do."

And South King Fire said "lots of cars in ditches and stuck on hills in parts of our area (especially on the eastside)."



The Renton Police Department said it was closing down SE Petrovitsky Road and 128th Avenue SE "due to road conditions. Multiple vehicles are currently stuck in this area, and road conditions are BAD."





The National Weather Service  had issued a winter-weather advisory for parts of Western Washington on Wednesday afternoon.

The advisory was to remain in effect until 3 a.m. Thursday and applies to the Tacoma area, as well as Admiralty Inlet, Bremerton, Gig Harbor, Silverdale, Port Townsend and the surrounding areas.

 

Q13 News chief meteorologist Walter Kelley said Wednesday night, "Most of us will get less than an inch, but many will see up to 3 inches. Seattle and Tacoma are expecting to get a little snow on the grass but the Coast, Olympia, Chehalis, Port Angeles, San Juans, Mount Vernon will get around 2 inches. The Convergence zone, Hood Canal and the foothills will get the most."



Kelley said the morning commute will likely be icy as temperatures remain below freezing.











Thursday looks mostly sunny, but another round of snow is expected Friday afternoon.

"This one looks like it will be for the Eastside, foothills and mountains," Kelley said. "The passes look messy Friday night. A foot of new snow for the ski areas Saturday morning, so I’d expect delays or closures again up there."

More lowland snow is on the way over the weekend, but the snow level should stay above the Seattle metro area and mostly will be focused above 500 feet.