As predicted, heavy snow arrives in South Sound
Snowmageddon arrived as predicted Friday, with heavy snow beginning in the greater Tacoma area just after noon.
Forecasts called for up to 8 inches in the Puget Sound area by Saturday morning.
By 7:30 p.m., 4.2 inches had fallen at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Sequim seemed to be receiving the most snowfall with more than 13 inches.
Road travel quickly became difficult across the region, and scores of events and services were canceled both Friday and Saturday.
Gov. Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency by mid-afternoon.
“Everyone in our state needs to focus on preparing for the snow and staying safe,” Inslee said in a statement.
On Friday, people were encouraged to work from home and avoid the roads during the snowstorm.
Troopers said they responded to 37 collisions and 56 abandoned cars in Pierce and Thurston counties Friday. In a four-hour span, Pierce County sheriff’s deputies responded to 12 abandoned vehicles and 25 collisions, three of which were hit-and-runs.
Deputies also rescued a 14-year-old girl and her dog after they fell through a frozen pond in Edgewood while out for a walk.
The girl went through the ice and managed to stand on a log while calling for help. A neighbor called 911 and deputies were able to pull the girl and dog to safety.
Travel could remain treacherous Saturday, as winds are expected pick up in Western Washington.
North winds of 20 to 30 mph were forecast, with gusts up to 45 mph. The shorelines are expected to receive the strongest winds.
A winter storm warning issued by the National Weather Service is in effect through 4 p.m. Saturday, warning people that “Travel is likely to become very difficult.”
Several school districts released students early, including Tacoma, Olympia and Clover Park. (See the full list here).
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium closed at 2 p.m. Friday and will remain closed Saturday. Officials said they will assess conditions over the weekend to see if the zoo will reopen Sunday.
Temperatures will remain cold, with a high of 36 in Tacoma Friday and wind chills dropping that to 23 degrees. Saturday could drop to 17 degrees.
Many airlines waived change fees Friday to allow travelers to fly out of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport before the storm hits. That meant extra long security lines and fully staffed TSA.
By 2 p.m., more than 200 flights had been canceled, according to FlightAware. (Check your flight status here).
This story was originally published February 8, 2019 at 8:26 AM.
