A historic snowstorm is expected to aim its greatest intensity on the Olympia area and Southwest Washington on Wednesday, dumping 6 to 14 inches of snow and possibly freezing rain before its retreat.
“It looks like you’re kind of in that battle zone,” said Ted Buehner, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Seattle, which issued a winter storm warning for nearly all of Western Washington.
Although snow showers in recent days have left uneven accumulations, everyone in Western Washington is forecast to feel the effects of this storm.
“This is a widespread, major-impact-type event,” Buehner said in a news conference Tuesday afternoon. “We’ve got pretty high confidence in how this is going to play out.”
Buehner, among others, advised staying home Wednesday. Driving on interstates likely will be hazardous. Secondary roads should be treacherous to impassable. Extreme wind chills are possible to the north, and flight delays and cancellations are likely, he said.
Power outages also might be a problem, especially in northern sections of Washington, where wind gusts could reach 50 mph.
An avalanche warning is in effect for the Olympic and Cascade mountains, where danger is extreme. Two to 4 feet is expected over the Cascades in the southern part of the state Wednesday – heavy, dense, wet snow that will sit atop snowpack that has been more stagnant of late.
Snow was expected to start falling after midnight tonight and continue throughout the day, heavy at times. Much colder air was expected to drift down from British Columbia, mixing with heavy precipitation coming off the Pacific Ocean, creating perfect conditions for snow. The system could switch to rain or freezing rain from Olympia south later Wednesday – or it could just snow all day, Buehner said.
Snow totals are expected to be lower in the lowlands to the north. Seattle and the central Puget Sound region was expected to get 5-10 inches, and even less was forecast in the North Sound. Snowfall will vary.
“Our weather around here is terrain-driven,” Buehner said. “We don’t notice it when its raining, but we really notice it when it’s snowing.”
Wednesday’s snowstorm could provide more snow at once than the 2008 snowstorm around Christmas, which froze about a foot of snow in place in some areas in the cold weather that followed. But the stuff won’t stick around long this time.
A little more snow is expected Thursday, when a weaker system rolls through. Freezing rain is also a possibility for South Sound and areas south Thursday.
By Friday, the system likely will turn to rain, which might cause flooding in small streams and urban areas. Residents are advised to clear drains of snow and ice.
Road crews are working around the clock, both to plow the snow and spray a salty mix on the roads to keep them from freezing.
“We are just doing everything we can to keep all our plows and stuff operational,” said Jack Lane, interim road-operations manager for Thurston County.
The City of Olympia warns people to avoid hills.
Emergency vehicles already were busy responding to accidents Tuesday, when several inches of snow blanketed the ground. Trooper Guy Gill of the Washington State Patrol reported that troopers had handled 70 crashes in Thurston and Pierce counties through mid-afternoon Tuesday, with 49 of those in Thurston County.
Olympia City Hall is scheduled to be open Wednesday, though services may be limited, according to a news release. The city still plans to collect garbage Wednesday and is strapping chains to its trucks. Crews are keeping a list of missed carts and will pick those up later.
Pacific Disposal is not operating, according to a recorded message. Customers are advised that if the trash isn’t picked up, crews will pick up extra on the next service day.
Sea-Tac Airport may see some delays Wednesday, but the airport is expected to stay open, said spokesman Perry Cooper. In 20 years, the airport has never shut down, he said.
“We’ve got 37 different pieces of equipment that we use” to keep the airport open, he said.
Cooper advised travelers to go to the airport’s website, www.portseattle.org/seatac, or consult with their airlines to check flight status before heading to the airport. People also might want to leave earlier.
There are a number of closures. The Olympia Planning Commission’s meeting Wednesday night has been canceled; it is rescheduled for Jan. 26. Priest Point and West Bay parks, Garfield Nature Trail and Watershed Park Trail are closed until further notice due to icy conditions and the possibility of falling tree limbs.
Olympia parks classes also are cancelled. Olympia Municipal Court is closed Wednesday.
The Olympia Fire Department is warning people with flat roofs to remove snow and ice from roof drains. Carport owners are advised to remove snow to prevent collapses.
Matt Batcheldor: 360-704-6869
mbatcheldor@theolympian.com
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