Friday, December 23, 2022 - 8:23 AM

Icy Capitol Hill open thread

CHS Staff

(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)


https://twitter.com/mmitgang/status/1606369099801559048

Freeway travel is treacherous with WSDOT closing portions of I-90 at one point and multiple collisions reported across the area. “Due to the large amount of freezing rain and icy conditions on roadways area wide we are advising limiting all non-essential travel at this time,” WSDOT posted. “Our crews are still working the roads but we suggest holding off until weather conditions improve.”

Seattle Police and Seattle Fire are geared up for the weather and responding to emergencies. An overnight fire in the 1700 block of Boylston was reported as a small “food on the stove” blaze.

Seattle Winter Response Map as of 8:00 AM

Many Capitol Hill shops and cafes will remain closed or delay their openings. Check social media before you brave the sidewalks for coffee.

So far, Seattle City Light hasn’t reported any major outages due to the accumulated ice on wires and branches. You can report outages and follow updates at seattle.gov/city-light/outages.

Seattle Public Utilities has canceled garbage and recycling pickups.

CHS posted more information on preparedness and staying safe during icy, cold weather here. It includes information on emergency cold weather shelter options including the response from the King County Regional Homelessness Authority.

The predicted ice storm’s thin layer is hoped to melt off by later in the day Friday as temperatures are set to rise to near 40 F thanks to the warm Pacific storm fighting its way into the region.

UPDATE 3:40 PM: Seattle Fire made quick work of an afternoon fire at 12th and Madison:

https://twitter.com/phaseballspl/status/1606421315585556480

 

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