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‘Two to four inches’ — Capitol Hill Christmas weekend snow — UPDATES

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Check out the latest updates on the CHS Traffic Cams page

Bands of precipitation left behind “two to four inches” of snow across Capitol Hill and nearby neighborhoods Sunday morning with more expected to fall through the day.

Below freezing temperatures sealed the deal with Sunday’s high not expected to climb out of the 20s before dipping again into the low 20s and possibly the high teens by Monday morning. Precipitation will also drop off off however, with snowfall diminishing into the afternoon. The National Weather Service’s Winter Storm Warning is in effect until 3 PM.

UPDATE 12:50 PM: Alex Garland is exploring around Capitol Hill — we’ll feature a few of his updates here.

UPDATE 7:40 PM: A round of updates from local facilities and services like garbage and recycling sent out Sunday night indicate much of the city’s infrastructure will be shut down or limited Monday. Solid waste pickup will be postponed while facilities like the King County Superior Court and Municipal Court have announced they will remain closed Monday. Metro to shift bus service to the Emergency Snow Network starting Monday and reduce service to around 60 core routes “that the City of Seattle and other jurisdictions prioritized for snow and ice removal.”

Forecasts show the cold air will stay but the most likely chance for another day of new snow here won’t come until Thursday.

With a holiday Sunday helping make for a quiet start, it’s probably best to stay close to home and off the roads if you can. We’ve included some information about the best routes for getting around, below, if you are so inclined. As usual, expect side streets to be a challenge. There have been reports of crashes and collisions across the area including E Madison and Broadway, Boren at Pike, on Jackson, and on the freeways in areas like I-5 near Southcenter.

Metro buses, meanwhile, are on snow routes. For those dealing with holiday travel, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport reports its anti-icing and snow removal crews are working on runways, taxiways, and ramps but is advising you check with airlines about cancellations and delays.

https://twitter.com/MiltantModerate/status/1475225400733155329

https://twitter.com/joshc/status/1475135908999405572

https://twitter.com/aidan_marcuss/status/1475142992843317249

The cold bout is expected to be Seattle’s most wintry weather since “Snowbruary 2021” which included the city’s snowiest day since 1969 as 12 inches of powder blanketed Capitol Hill. Last Christmas, meanwhile, Seattle got a little bit of snow leading up to the holiday. CHS showed the scenes in what was at that point a recently swept Cal Anderson Park. In 2021, most of Capitol Hill’s largest homeless encampment areas have been cleared though many continue to live under-sheltered here. Last week, the city cleared encampments around Green Lake. In response to the cold, the city says it will open two additional emergency shelters beginning Christmas Day.

Many Capitol Hill area businesses were already closed for the holiday weekend while others opted to shut down for the snow. Check social media or call ahead before venturing out.

We’ve included more information about and tips for what to know when it snows on Capitol Hill, below.

  • Transit: For bus riders, Metro has a website to organize winter weather updates at metrowinter.com. If it gets serious, expect delays in service and some canceled trips as articulated trolley buses may be moved out of service. Sign up for Rider Alerts now. Also be ready for Metro “snow routes.” Capitol Hill Station and light rail can be the most dependable hub in the public transit system during snow events. Sound Transit says it works to maintain “normal light rail service” during inclement weather, “although minor delays can occur.” It will also continue to operate trains overnight after the close of passenger service to prevent ice from forming on the tracks. The First Hill Streetcar can operate in snow not deeper than four inches.
  • Driving: The city’s “green and gold” snow clearance priority routes are here. Remember that side streets will not be cleared and may be covered with snow even when an artery route is clear:

    View the regularly updated SDOT Storm Response Map here

  • Sidewalks: The city reminds that clearing sidewalks of snow and ice in front of buildings and residences is the property owner’s responsibility:
    In Seattle, it’s the legal responsibility of businesses, contractors, and residents to care for sidewalks and other elements of the right-of-way next to private properties and job sites in a timely manner.
  • Alerts and more: For the latest information on the City of Seattle’s response to cold and snow, including plowed roads and power outage information, visit seattle.gov/winterweather.
  • Airport: The FAA’s Sea-Tac status page is here.
  • The highest point on Capitol Hill, Volunteer Park, at 453 feet above sea level, is #5 on the list of Seattle’s highest elevations.
  • Best place to sled (mostly safely) are these CHS Volunteer Park Sled Runs. If it gets nuts, sledding down Denny is part of Capitol Hill legend. Watch out for moving cars of course but some of the most serious injuries come from hitting parked cars. Wear a helmet?
  • Here are a few helpful Twitter accounts:
  • You can also check the CHS Street Cams page before you head out. And the CHS Weather page has the latest reports from local observations. See something others should know about? Email CHS or call/txt (206) 399-5959.

Big Snow Days in CHS History

  • Jan. 13, 2020 — 2″ — January 2020’s snow event came with larger expectations but was a bit of a bust.
  • SNOWBRUARY 2019 — 20.2″ — Yes, Snowbruary is not one day but winter 2019 saw the snowiest month since 1969 in Seattle. We survived. But it was epic.
  • Feb. 22 2018 — trace — A sunny, slippery Thursday ahead after gentle snowfall on Capitol Hill: Take your time getting around Capitol Hill this morning. Most major streets are clear but sidewalks, stairs, and pretty much everything else is cold and icy after a gentle blanket of snowfall Wednesday night.
  • Feb. 6 2017 — 5” — Capitol Hill Super Snow LI open thread: Lots of fun and games for those with time to play Monday. We found a veritable kid winter olympics underway in Volunteer Park.
    2016
    2016
  • Dec. 9 2016 — 1/2” — Return of #seasnow open thread: Capitol Hill pictures, video, etc.: Enjoy it while it lasts. Snow fell on Capitol Hill Thursday night in what looks likely to be the heaviest snowfall the area has seen since 2013 — like we reported earlier this week, the low bar is 7/10ths of an inch.
  • 2015 — 0” — No snow!

  • 2014 (Image: Tim Durkan)

    Feb. 8 2014 — 3” — Saturday night snow on Capitol Hill — UPDATE: Super Snow Sunday: Capitol Hill enjoyed a casual Saturday night snowfall that barely put a coat across the the neighborhood though things got a little heavier in the north toward Volunteer Park.

  • Dec. 20 2013 — 1” — #seasnow 2013: Capitol Hill Seattle snow updates: What was already likely to be a quiet Friday before Christmas on Capitol Hill and across the rest of the city is even more muffled — and lovely! — after the predicted blanket of snow did, indeed, settle across the Puget Sound beginning early this morning just before 4 AM.

  • 2010 — Return of the Denny sled run (Image: David Lichterman)

    Jan. 18 2012 — 7” — Capitol Hill #seasnow | Snow day pictures + what comes next: There is still a lot of fun to be had as this snow day becomes a snow night on Capitol Hill. But we’re starting to look ahead at what comes next… It will be a bit of a mess.

  • Jan. 11 2011 — 3” — 1/11/11 Snow Commute Open Thread: With this much forewarning, it’s almost impossible to take the concerns seriously and, yet, latest reports and updates from the City of Seattle indicate that we’re about to get hit by drive-time snow around the Puget Sound.
  • Nov. 22 2010 — 2 1/2” — Capitol Hill #snomg Thanksgiving week 2010: Monday night update: If you told us this morning — #snomg Monday Update –– that we’d be producing a second #snomg update today, we’d have told you about Cliff Mass and sat back comfortably and.. wait.
  • Jan. 4 2009 — 3 1/2” — Crap, it’s snowing (& sticking) again on the Hill: Clearly, this is just nature reminding you of Tuesday’s city council session where they’ll be discussing December’s snow and ice craziness.
  • Dec. 21 2008 — 8″ — Hanukkah Eve Storm III Open Thread: Somewhere between 4″ and 6″ fell in the Capitol Hill area overnight. Maybe 9″ since it all began.

    2008 (Image: Aghman)

 

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🌈🐣🌼🌷🌱🌳🌾🍀🍃🦔🐇🐝🐑🌞🌻 
Subscribe to CHS to help us hire writers and photographers to cover the neighborhood. CHS is a pay what you can community news site with no required sign-in or paywall. To stay that way, we need you.

Become a subscriber to help us cover the neighborhood for $5 a month -- or choose your level of support 👍 

 
 

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Michael Calkins
Michael Calkins
3 years ago

No one survived…….