Tag Archives: weather

‘More snow is possible’ — Seattle ending February with more cold and wintry weather — UPDATE

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(Image: National Weather Service)The National Weather Service has updated its forecasts and issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Monday night into Tuesday. The NWS predicts Seattle could see enough snow to make things a challenge Tuesday morning:

Another round of precipitation will spread across the region Monday night through Tuesday. Snow levels will linger between 0-500 feet. Accumulations will be highly dependent on temperature and elevation. Near sea-level, expect accumulations primarily be on grassy and elevated surfaces, however road accumulations will be possible in heavier showers.

More snow would add to a wintry end for February after the midwinter break snow that fell last Wednesday and more that accumulated here Sunday.

While the forecast predicts less than an inch for places like downtown Seattle and Capitol Hill, the NWS says the city lies within an “area with the potential for a Puget Sound Convergence Zone leading to quick additional accumulations.”

If it comes to it, you can check to see when streets in your area were recently treated here.

The King County Regional Homelessness Authority says it activated its “Severe Weather Response protocols” earlier this month and will extend the activation through at least March 9th. You can learn more about resources and cold weather shelter spaces here.

UPDATE 2/28/2023 7:45 AM: In a small update to social media, the NWS said the snow level will drop again this morning but accumulations will continue to vary widely. “As expected, snow accumulations out there this AM are HIGHLY dependent on the local temperatures and elevation. Going down from 200ft to sea level this morning,” the NWS representative said.

 

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20% chance? Capitol Hill gets thin layer of midwinter break snow

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Check out the CHS Capitol Hill Traffic Cams page for updates

There will not be a snow day with many Capitol Hill school kids out for midwinter break but Seattle got a surprise thin layer of new snow Wednesday morning. The National Weather Service had predicted a 20% chance of the white stuff. Those odds delivered.

The NWS says a Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for the lowland areas of Snohomish, King, and Skagit Counties with 1 to 2” of snow possible through 11AM. Continue reading →

High Wind Warning issued with predictions for 50+ MPH winds in Seattle — UPDATE

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Charge your phones and gather up the blankets, flashlights, batteries, and a few snacks. A High Wind Warning has been issued for Seattle and the Puget Sound with predictions for 50+ MPH winds Tuesday peaking this afternoon into the evening:

…HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 10 PM
PST THIS EVENING…

* WHAT…West winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts 55 to 65 mph
expected.

* WHERE…North Coast and Central Coast.

* WHEN…From 10 AM this morning to 10 PM PST this evening.

* IMPACTS…Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines.
Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be
difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around trees and branches. If possible, remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Use caution if you must drive.

UPDATE 1:30 PM: The forecast for Seattle has moderated somewhat but weather watchers still have their eye on the storm as it slams into the Pacific Northwest and brings heavy rains and severe wind gusts from Oregon to British Columbia. Most significant issue so far has been coastal flooding related to larger than predicted tides. The National Weather Service warning remains in effect through 1 AM.

Officials are warning Seattle could see another day of power outages after scattered disruptions due to a much shorter burst of windy weather on Monday. The more sustained wind event could blow down branches and trees from soils soaked by the recent heavy rains and weakened by the longer and drier than normal summer. Continue reading →

Icy Capitol Hill open thread

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(Image: Matt Mitgang/CHS)

A layer of ice has made for tricky going across Capitol Hill and Seattle Friday morning with Metro bus service halted and with most streets too treacherous to safely drive. Meanwhile, the typically busy travel day started with Seattle-Tacoma International Airport shut down due to icy runways.

Closer to home, sidewalks are slippery messes — especially on the slopes of Capitol Hill and Sound Transit’s light rail remains your best bet for getting around the iced over city with only “moderate” delays reported. The First Hill Streetcar remains in the barn due to the icy conditions.

UPDATE 2:22 PM: Metro says it plans to resume service on the Emergency Snow Network routes after 4 PM.

Streets around Capitol Hill remained mostly untreated early Friday morning with even SDOT’s priority routes waiting for crews to be able to safely response. Marked closures dot the area including many of the hilly side streets on the eastern edge. You can check to see when streets in your area were recently treated here.

Blocking vehicles or black ice were reported at Melrose and Mercer, E Olive Pl and Bellevue, and the 100 block of 12th Ave. More are sure to roll in as the city wakes up. UPDATE: Add Belmont and Howell, 36th Ave, 30th Ave, and 27th and Olive to the crash and ice list.

SDOT is asking you to call 206-684-ROAD to report streets that “need evaluation for closure.” “We do not plow/salt treat less traveled on/hilly streets that can become unsafe for travel,” SDOT said today via social media.

UPDATE 11:35 AM: Streets east of 24th Ave were a “no go” for East Precinct officers per a radio update as reports of crashes and collisions, slips and falls are piling up around the city.

(Images: Matt Mitgang/CHS)

Continue reading →

City officials: Prepare for freezing rain and ice in Seattle

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Weather forecasters and officials are warning Seattle residents to be prepared — You might be stuck where you are and with what you have on hand starting Friday morning.

Freezing temperatures which saw Capitol Hill drop to 15 F overnight will continue into Friday morning as a storm arrives with a mix of probable snow and freezing rain. Depending on the timing of how things warm up by Friday afternoon, the area could be a real mess headed into the holiday weekend: Continue reading →

CHS Pics | Capitol Hill days of snow and ice

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Tuesday’s snow has become Wednesday’s ice and with temperatures forecasted to remain below freezing through Friday afternoon, you might as well enjoy it. Here are some of the scenes of snow and ice from around the Hill. There will be more to come, no doubt. Snow is likely to return again Thursday night before transitioning to a “wintry mix” into the holiday weekend. There could also be “freezing rain” and all the hazards that come with it. Stay warm.

 

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Tuesday snow open thread — UPDATE: Less than an inch but Capitol Hill is a bit of a frozen mess

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(Image: CHS)

An unsettled day of weather has brought some snow to Capitol Hill but nothing, yet, like the multiple inches of snowfall being reported north and east of the city. Showers are expected to taper off into the evening as the temperature drops to near a low of 15 F.

Snowfall picked up around 9:30 AM with temperatures on the Hill hovering around freezing. The forecast calls for about one to two inches in Seattle with precipitation slowing as the temperature drops into nighttime and Thursday morning. Thursday’s snow odds drop sharply until the night when we have an 80% chance of more flakes. You can check out the latest National Weather Service forecast for our area here.

Roads were beginning to become an issue especially on side streets and Hills. Even with a small amount of snow, the cold temperatures settling over the city will make for icy streets and sidewalks overnight and through Wednesday. Continue reading →

Cold — and snowy? — holiday week ahead on Capitol Hill — UPDATE: power outage, Winter Storm Warning

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Wind chill reported by the NWS

Less than an inch of snow fell on Capitol Hill overnight and streets and sidewalks remained only dusted Monday morning as a week of cold and unsettled weather begins.

National Weather Service forecasters say you will still see a few snowflakes here and there Monday but probably no real snow in the city and on Capitol Hill until Tuesday when a new storm pushes over the city and could bring one to three inches of snow with days and nights of snow then rain continuing into Christmas weekend: Continue reading →

Sorry, public school kids — Thanks to remote learning, there will be no Seattle snow days in 2023

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A potential Seattle-area snow event next week won’t matter — school kids will be home for a two-week holiday break. But the school district is preparing for a big change — a remote learning plan that would mean no “snow days” in 2023.

Seattle Public Schools has announced a new remote learning plan to replace the longtime tradition of snow day cancellations.

“We cannot predict or control the weather, but we can maximize our response to it,” the district’s announcement reads. “Technology provides a way to engage with students even when winter weather makes it unsafe to go to school buildings.”

Under the plan, families will receive communication from the district if there is a two-hour delay or a switch to remote learning. “Families will also receive communication from a student’s school with more information about how the school day will look if we have a remote learning day,” the district said. Continue reading →

Another ‘Winter Weather Advisory’ but Capitol Hill’s next round of November snow might not stick

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Capitol Hill and Seattle should get another one to two inches of snow overnight into Thursday morning. And it should not stick.

The National Weather Service has issued a new “Winter Weather Advisory” for the region calling for more snow across the Puget Sound through Thursday afternoon but forecasted temperatures in Seattle are expected to make any accumulation here unlikely to be significant.

Still, the morning could bring freezing temperatures and icy sidewalks out of whatever mix of snow and rain occurs.

These autumn rounds of “wintry mix” weather are expected to persist in Seattle into at least next week.

 

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