Closures of parks, services Monday as frigid temperatures grip Tacoma area after snow
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Snow Days 2021
The frigid cold that gripped Western Washington and dumped several inches of snow in the city is expected to stick around.
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The frigid cold that gripped Western Washington and dumped several inches of snow in the city is expected to stick around.
“Dangerously cold temperatures” will linger through Wednesday with highs in the 20s and lows dipping to 15 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
A record low of 20 degrees was set at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Sunday. The previous record was 22 degrees in 1948.
In Tacoma, forecasters said Monday would be mostly cloudy with a high near 26. There’s a chance of snow throughout the week, but it’s unclear how much will fall if snow returns.
About 2-3 inches of snow fell overnight Sunday in the Tacoma area, 1-3 inches came down in Olympia and 2-4 inches of snow fell in King County, the Weather Service said.
The Lighthouse Activity Center, 5016 A St., is open as a temporary warming center until Jan. 2. The city has partnered with Low Income Housing Institute to offer services there during that time.
Metro Parks Tacoma said all facilities would remain closed Monday, including the gates to Five Mile Drive, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park and Meadow Park Golf Course.
The Cheney Stadium COVID-19 testing station and Bonney Lake Park and Ride closed Monday due to “adverse weather conditions,” Pierce County tweeted.
Also closed were Chambers Creek Regional Park and the outdoor areas at Sprinker Recreation Center in Spanaway.
Crews were working to treat the roads so Fantasy Lights, the county’s holiday lights display, could open at 5 p.m.
County officials and the Washington State Department of Transportation warned that there is compact snow and ice on the roads and advised drivers to go slow.
There were 116 collisions in Pierce and Thurston counties Sunday and more than 70 by 3 p.m. Monday, trooper Robert Reyer said.
Travel at Sea-Tac Airport Monday continued to be uncertain.
More than 170 flights had been canceled Monday and more than 215 were delayed, according to FlightAware.
This story was originally published December 27, 2021 at 10:02 AM.
