Snow blankets Tacoma, Olympia areas. Frigid air and chance of snow in forecast
Several inches of snow fell overnight in the Tacoma and Olympia areas and there’s a chance of snow the rest of the week.
This much is certain: It is going to get very cold, according to the National Weather Service.
Overnight lows are expected to plunge into the teens and 20s through Thursday morning, followed by warmer temperatures Thursday afternoon, forecaster Jacob DeFlitch said Sunday morning.
Between now and then, though, as other weather systems move through the region, it could produce more snow, he said. There’s a chance of snow for the area Monday night into Tuesday and Wednesday night into Thursday, although there’s uncertainty about how much might accumulate, if at all, he said.
About 2-3 inches of snow fell overnight Sunday in the Tacoma area and 1-3 inches fell in the Olympia area over the same period. About 2-4 inches of snow fell in King and north Pierce county, DeFlitch said.
More snow was expected to fall throughout the region Sunday and taper off Sunday afternoon, he said.
Some weather-related impacts in the Tacoma area:
▪ Pierce Transit announced that all routes have shifted to snow routes including the Route 11-Point Defiance bus.
▪ Crews for the City of Tacoma’s Street Operations Division were clearing primary snow routes throughout the city, intending to clear one lane in each direction. Snow plow operations on secondary snow routes were expected to follow. Crews were operating 12 large plows and two smaller plows, with operations expected to continue throughout the storm event.
The city’s approach to snow involves plowing and de-icing streets on a priority level, beginning with primary arterial streets, followed by secondary and auxiliary routes. The time required to work through routes depends on the intensity of a particular snowstorm and how much snow or ice accumulates. Crews aren’t able to remove snow from residential streets.
▪ Several parks are closed, including Spanaway Park, which was to be closed all day Sunday, but open at 5 p.m. for fantasy lights, according to the county. The Sprinker Recreation Center building opened at 11 a.m. Sunday, but Bresemann Forest and the park are closed all day. Parking lot entry is via Military Road only, according to a post on Twitter.
▪ Gig Harbor police have closed several roads because of slippery conditions: Pioneer Way, Stinson Avenue and Vernhardsen Street, west of north Harborview.
▪ Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium and Northwest Trek in Eatonville announced Sunday and Monday closures because of the snow.
Some weather-related impacts in Thurston County and surrounding areas:
▪ South Sound YMCA Child Care Services announced Sunday that all child care (day camps) will be closed Monday.
▪ Intercity Transit has shifted some bus lines to snow routes.
▪ Oly on Ice, the downtown Olympia ice skating rink, is modifying hours because of the weather. It was to be 1-6 p.m. Sunday, according to the city parks department.
▪ The state Department of Enterprise Services has closed the restrooms at Marathon Park and the Interpretive Center off Deschutes Parkway due to dropping temperatures, which can cause the toilet water to freeze. The Heritage Park restroom on Water Street remains open. This decision will be re-evaluated as weather conditions unfold.
The Capitol Campus restrooms on the East Plaza and inside the West Campus Visitor Center remain open during their normal hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
▪ Grays Harbor College in Aberdeen announced Sunday that it would open two hours late on Monday.
▪ The Evergreen State College announced campuses in Olympia and Tacoma will be closed Monday.
This story was originally published December 26, 2021 at 11:57 AM.
