Megastorm to Slam Seattle, Worst Snow Storm in Decades Expected, Avalanche Warnings Issued (video)
Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on January 18, 2012
A 'megastorm' is expected to hit Seattle, Washington, the worst the region has seen in decades
The worst snowfall in decades is predicted for the Seattle area. Some are calling it “historic.” So much for “global warming”…
From Washington Post, Seattle gears up for major snowstorm:
The hype is building in the Emerald City for a possible “megastorm”of historic proportions tonight and Wednesday. Snow total forecasts of over one foot are being tossed around. But officially, the National Weather Service (NWS) is calling for 5-10 inches in Seattle and some forecast amounts are falling.
Including media forecasts and bloggers, predicted amounts range from 2-12”+ for the greater Seattle area. Irrespective of exact amounts, the incoming storm promises to have major impacts across the Puget Sound region and nearby mountains.
The combination of heavy wet snow and strong winds may cause power outages in some areas and travel is likely to be difficult, especially during the day Wednesday, when the snow is likely to be heaviest.
Winter storm warnings are posted for much of western Washington. The high elevations of central Cascades may see several feet of snow. Some spots may see 40” in just 24 hours.
In Seattle, a 10-inch snowfall would be the most since 1996 according to the Seattle Times. Seattle’s long-term annual average snowfall is 11.7” but just 5.9” from 1981-2010.
From Fox News, Schools close, flights canceled as storm nears NW:
Schools preemptively closed, crews salted down streets and more than two dozen flights into two Pacific Northwest cities were canceled as the region prepared for a potentially major snowstorm on Wednesday.
Forecasts called for about 3 to 5 inches of snow in the Seattle metropolitan area, with heavier amounts expected in communities along the Interstate 5 corridor south of the city. The city’s schools canceled classes, as did their counterparts in other western Washington cities such as Tacoma, Olympia and Bellingham.
Alaska Airlines announced late Tuesday that it canceled 38 flights into and out of Seattle and Portland, Ore. The airline was waiving rebooking fees for passengers traveling Tuesday through Thursday in those cities.
Conditions on the roads were expected to be dangerous as the storm was forecast to begin dumping snow on the area just before the morning rush hour.
“Wednesday is going to be a good day to stay at home,” said Brad Colman, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Seattle. “The road is going to be treacherous.”
Homemade Video: Seattle Jan. Snow Storm 2012
From AccuWeather, Seattle: Winter’s Worth of Snow in One Day:
Schools are closed and a nightmare awaits commuters in Seattle today with a storm dumping a winter’s worth of snow in less than 24 hours.
Snow that began whitening Portland late on Tuesday evening spent the overnight hours spreading northward along Interstate 5 to Seattle.
While the snow will transition to soaking rain soon after sunrise in Portland, the same will not happen in Seattle.
The snow in Seattle will instead persist through this evening with totals averaging around 6 inches, the equivalent of what the city typically receives during an entire winter.
The heaviest totals will be measured toward the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport with lesser amounts in the city’s northern suburbs.
From KOMO News, Snow falling as latest storm moves into Western Washington:
SEATTLE — After days of on-and-off snow that blanketed much of Western Washington, the Seattle metro area was finally getting its own shot of the white stuff early Wednesday morning.
Snow began falling in the city before 4 a.m., and several inches may cover the area before the day is over.
Heavier snow is falling south of Seattle, and most roads were covered in the Tacoma area well before the start of the morning commute. Significant snowfall is expected in Southwest Washington and Olympia, which had and 6 inches of new snow by 4 a.m.
Schools throughout the area cancelled or delayed the start of classes, and buses in King and Pierce Counties were running on snow routes.
City, county and state road crews were plowing main roads and highways and dropping de-icer, but officials urged drivers to use extreme caution throughout the day.
The general story is that this event will likely be snow start-to-finish, so no warm slush fest at the end as mentioned in earlier forecasts, but not quite as much snow as initially feared, at least from Seattle north to the border. Those of you Tacoma south are still facing significant amounts of snow.
[...]
In addition to the snow, wind and freezing rain are concerns in spots.
A Wind Advisory is in effect for the Whatcom/Skagit/San Juan County area for midnight Wednesday morning through 6 p.m. Wednesday for northeast winds of 35-45 gusting to 55 mph. This will also drop wind chills to near zero and cause freezing spray on the northern waters.
[...]
Four to 8 inches of snow might sound like a lot around Puget Sound, but it’s child’s play in the mountains. The Cascades are forecast to get anywhere from 18 to 36 inches of new snow Wednesday into Wednesday night. Avalanche warnings are up and conditions couldn’t be more extreme. Expect frequent and lengthy delays trying to get over the passes for avalanche control.
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