Capitol Hill Super Snow LI open thread

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UPDATE 2/6/17 1:20 PM: The wet snow has been taking a toll on utility wires through the day but the pace has picked up a bit with reports coming in of wires down in various areas around Capitol Hill but, so far, no interruption in electricity services. Many of the wires have been for cable service keeping Comcast technicians busy. Cracking branches are also a problem so watch your head. One group of helpful citizens was captured on video, above, helping to keep 15th Ave E clear. Thanks to Julie for sharing the video with us. SDOT’s crews, meanwhile, along with City Light and Seattle Public Utilities have kept the city from coming to a standstill.

UPDATE 2/6/17 11:25 AM: Lots of fun and games for those with time to play Monday. We found a veritable kid winter olympics underway in Volunteer Park. Forecasters are still watching how the afternoon and evening will unfold — depending on temperatures on the ground, we could see a little more snow… but, more likely, rain.

UPDATE 2/6/17 6:45 AM: Added scenes from a morning walk, throughout, below. The routes like Broadway, Pike, Pine, E Olive Way are mostly drivable. Side streets and hills are treacherous for the ill-equipped, the unprepared, and the occasional wayward Metro driver. Take it slow. Meanwhile, many cafes and neighborhood businesses are starting their days and ready for action thanks to a walk-area workforce.

UPDATE 2/6/17 4:58 AM: Seattle started its Monday blanketed in a layer of snow with around a 1/2 inch reported across most of the city. Schools are closed for the day and buses are running on “designated snow routes”–

At the start of service on Monday, King County Metro Transit is operating all buses via designated snow routes in all areas until further notice. It is not possible to know when a bus will arrive at a specific location, or to provide service updates at the individual trip or stop level. Use regularly published timetables as a guide, check Metro’s online snow page for updates, be aware of conditions in your area and be prepared for delays. Transit customers are advised to wait for buses at posted bus stops on flat portions of cleared arterials or at major transfer points, such as park-and-ride lots and transit centers where there may be multiple service options.

On parts of Capitol Hill, the accumulations were closer to three to five inches and snow was continuing to softly fall. Forecasts call for snow to continue through noon before transitioning to periods of snow and rain in the afternoon. Don’t expect streets and sidewalks to get much better during the day. A team of dozens of snow removal trucks was working to keep the city’s main arterials open but streets especially at higher elevations on Capitol Hill around 15th Ave E were mostly snow covered and best for all-wheel drive vehicles despite a few brave souls making a run for it in lesser machines.

Meanwhile, there were no reports of significant power outages in our area of the city despite dipping tree branches covered with snow. There was at least one report of a tree that surrendered to the weight exciting a local TV news crew to no end.

CHS will continue to have updates through the day. See something others should know about? Email CHS or call/txt (206) 399-5959.

The NWS forecast for the 24-hour period from 4 PM Sunday to 4 PM Monday shows a prediction for around 3.5 inches in Seattle

The NWS forecast for the 24-hour period from 4 PM Sunday to 4 PM Monday shows a prediction for around 3.5 inches in Seattle

Original Report: The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning and wet and icy flakes were falling across Capitol Hill Sunday night as Seattle prepared for an expected inch or more of snow predicted to, um, pile up in the next 24 hours. Bundle up!

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS…3 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOWFALL IS POSSIBLE.
LOCALIZED ACCUMULATIONS UP TO 8 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE CLOSE TO THE
CASCADES.

Life in a northern town like Seattle means occasional visits of extra wintry weather that can overwhelm our transit system and cause plenty of issues for getting around town. As a result, our parameters for a “snow day” are a little lower than you might find in locations more accustomed to frozen, fluffy rain.

While not much was sticking around 9 PM Sunday, cooler temperatures and continued precipitation were expect to conspire in honest to goodness snow accumulation by the morning commute.

As of Sunday night, there weren’t any announced school cancellations and the city is still in wait and see mode. You can check out SDOT’s winter weather information here. You can also sign up for updates on conditions at Alert.Seattle.gov.

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Walking home in a winter wonderland

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