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Tuesday snow open thread — UPDATE: Less than an inch but Capitol Hill is a bit of a frozen mess

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(Image: CHS)

An unsettled day of weather has brought some snow to Capitol Hill but nothing, yet, like the multiple inches of snowfall being reported north and east of the city. Showers are expected to taper off into the evening as the temperature drops to near a low of 15 F.

Snowfall picked up around 9:30 AM with temperatures on the Hill hovering around freezing. The forecast calls for about one to two inches in Seattle with precipitation slowing as the temperature drops into nighttime and Thursday morning. Thursday’s snow odds drop sharply until the night when we have an 80% chance of more flakes. You can check out the latest National Weather Service forecast for our area here.

Roads were beginning to become an issue especially on side streets and Hills. Even with a small amount of snow, the cold temperatures settling over the city will make for icy streets and sidewalks overnight and through Wednesday.

The Seattle Department of Transportation has its snow plow fleet out on patrol and treating pavement around the city. If it comes to it, stick to the city’s planned snow routes where plowing will take place if conditions warrant. There have been reports of stuck vehicles and buses on 24th Ave, E Olive St, and 15th Ave E near Boston. Collision reports are also piling up including a crash on E Madison. Six to seven vehicles were reported spun out and stuck by a 911 caller at Boren and Pike. Stuck buses were also reported on 10th Ave and a Route 8 coach on John at 12th.

Check out the Capitol Hill Street Cams page to check out conditions around the area.

Meanwhile, King County Metro activated its Route 90 snow circuit looping Capitol Hill, First Hill, and Downtown Seattle. “All bus routes in Metro’s King County service areas are currently operating on their designated snow routing and may also be delayed,” Metro reports.

Capitol Hill Station and light rail were operating normally though the system could be faced with delays after a car reportedly has hit the rail crossing at MLK and Thistle.

Agencies like the King County Regional Homelessness Authority have been preparing for the storm with a schedule of expanded cold weather shelter resources.

Monday also brought a brief power outage in North Capitol Hill along with the cold conditions.

UPDATE 12:45 PM: Snow showers continue but volumes are low and most of the Hill is open for business as people prepare for end of the year holidays and gatherings.

Side streets around Capitol Hill are slushy and messy and, as the temperature drops, are turning icy. Sidewalks, meanwhile, are treacherous despite good work by many owners to follow the rules and clear the areas around their properties. In the past, the city made a bigger deal about reminding property owners of the ordinance that makes them responsible for clearing adjacent sidewalks of ice and snow but hasn’t had anything specific to say as this winter sets in. Watch your step over the coming days.

Seattle Public Utilities also has announced delays in residential garbage and recycling service:

Weather and road conditions permitting, garbage, recycling, and food/yard waste service will resume Wednesday, December 21, 2022 on a revised schedule — with customers scheduled for pickup today, Tuesday, collected tomorrow. All remaining residential services will be delayed one day this week. For example, if your regular collection day is Friday, your garbage, recycling, and food/yard waste will be collected on Saturday this week. Customers should be sure to have their containers out by 7 a.m. to ensure collection. If your materials are not picked up by the end of the following day, please put them out on your next regularly scheduled pickup day. Customers missed this week will be allowed to set out double their normal amount of garbage, recycling and yard waste at no additional charge, on their next scheduled collection day.

CHS Weather Tools

 

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