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Subscribe to RSSTime lapse video shows inches of snow falling on a city where winter is typically wet, not white.
SEATTLE -- A Pacific storm blanketed downtown Seattle in a few inches of snow but smothered other parts, especially south of the city and in the mountains, where several feet of new snow fell.
For Seattle, the storm proved less extreme than originally forecast, with the National Weather Service lowering its outlook for possible snow accumulations from up to 10 inches to around 6 inches, meteorologist Dustin Guy said.
But Olympia, the state capital, saw 10 inches by late Wednesday morning.
By midday Wednesday, 20 inches of snow already had fallen on the rural town of Rochester, just south of Olympia, said Rob Harper, a spokesman for the state Emergency Operations Center.
There were 95 accidents in an eight-hour period in Pierce and Thurston counties, which include Tacoma and Olympia, State Trooper Guy Gill said Wednesday morning. Most were spinouts.
"You need to pick a rut and stay in it. If you get off the beaten path, you're in deep trouble," Gill said. "I saw a guy in my rear mirror — I saw headlights and tail lights and headlights and tail lights again as he spun around off the road."
John Brecher / msnbc.com
Composite views of downtown Seattle as seen from the Jose Rizal Bridge on Tuesday, top, and Wednesday morning, bottom. Click the images to see a slideshow of other before and after pictures.
"For the first time in my career I had to put chains on," Gill said. "You stay in the path laid down on the freeway. You get off that, you are in trouble."
Most schools in the Seattle area were closed on Wednesday due to the storm, said Lesley Rogers, a spokeswoman for the Seattle Public Schools district.
Children took advantage of the rare snow day to sled down hilly streets, especially the city's tallest incline, Queen Anne Hill, which towers 450 feet above nearby Elliott Bay.
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View reader photos from the storm
Four inches of snow was measured at the city's Sea-Tac Airport by mid-morning, and the Seattle suburb of Bothell was blanketed with nearly 7 inches of snow, the Weather Service reported.
John Brecher / msnbc.com
This street in Seattle's Beacon Hill neighborhood is seen Wednesday morning, bottom, and a day earlier.
Alaska Airlines canceled over 40 flights departing from or arriving in Seattle as a result of the storm, the company said. Southwest Airlines cancelled six flights into Seattle early in the day but resumed all flights by mid-morning, said company spokeswoman Ashley Dillon.
The snowstorm also slowed traffic on city streets and freeways.
"There's been tons of collisions, it's been really slick out there," said Julie Startup, a spokeswoman for the Washington State Patrol.
The State Patrol responded to reports of 75 collisions and spin-outs in King County alone, which includes Seattle, between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m., Startup said.
Normally temperate Seattle is more accustomed to steady rain than snow in winter, averaging just 6 to 7 inches of snow each year, said National Weather Service meteorologist Brad Colman.
The storm also was blamed for "scattered" power outages, mostly in southwestern Washington state, Harper said.
Some 30,000 homes and buildings were without power in Portland, Ore., on Wednesday morning as trees made heavy by ice downed power lines.
NBC's Miguel Almaguer reports.
Gusts up to 110 mph were reported along the Oregon coast.
The Cascade Mountains could see 1 to 3 feet of new snow through late Wednesday, and officials warned of high avalanche danger there. Some computer models showed the Cascades potentially receiving up to 4 feet of snow, reported KING5.com on Wednesday morning.
PHOTOBLOG: Before/After photos of the Seattle snow
The snow was expected to taper off on Wednesday night, giving way to a mixture of rain and snow more typical for the region, Weather Service meteorologist Johnny Burg said.
But Harper said freezing rain could bring about additional problems in parts of Washington state.
"Freezing rain increases the chances that power lines will come down," he said.
He added the governor could later declare a state of emergency if conditions worsen.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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At Fort Greely Alaska we would have welcomed this kind of a weather report! 12" of snow there would have been considered light snow flurries!
Oh what oh what will the weather reporting industry do?
Yup, same thing in Vermont...get over a little snow and move on. Vermont is not Alaska, we dont get THAT much, but 12" might slow us down a little, but I would say for every inch we get set back 1 hour not days. Hell, IRENE gave us 2 feet of rain, destroyed 120 roads and bridges, and countless homes. ALL of the infrastucture was rebuilt in 3 months, although not the same can be said of the poeple whose homes were damaged or destroyed. SO, get over the little bit of snow, move it out of the way, and get on with business.
It wouldn't be too bad here either, but for places that don't have much equipment or experience with this much snow it can easily shut everything down.
The reason it is such a big deal here is all the hills. Some of them are so steep that it can be scary driving down them when it is sunny outside. Seattle is made out of hills (Queen Anne Hill, Capitol Hill, First Hill, etc.). We have some people who just moved to my office from New Jersey. They commented that they are used to driving in lots of snow, but that what makes the difference was the huge hills and that they were afraid to drive in it. Just google "Queen Anne Hill" and "snow" together and watch a couple of the videos that pop up on Youtube. It is difficult to get those plows up the hills (or down them, for that matter). You simply can't compare Seattle to Alaska or Vermont. There is a lot more to it than a "little bit of snow".
That is the difference between places that get snow regularily and here. (i'm north in bellingham) we have ALOT more hills and we aren't prepared for the 1 decent storm we get every 3-4 years. THe cities and counties just don't own teh equipment for it because it would just sit most of the time and does. Plus people here don't know how to drive in it and if you've seen the hills in seattle, then you'd know why it is especially bad there.
I got stuck in my SUV (and i know how to drive in this crap, i grew up in MT), driving into my driveway yesterday after work, so much deep wet snow, we had to dig it out, part of the problem, we live on a hill and have a steep driveway, fairly typical in some places out here.
Problem is Seattle all but shuts down with ANY kind of snow!
Wonder if they will have to brew their own coffee at home today?
Not only do you have the hills in the Seattle area, but you also have a much wetter snow fall then Alaska gets which packs and becomes slicker then the dryer snow in Alaska. Then you add to this the military towns like Bremerton and Tacoma, etc. where you get people from places that have never seen snow at all. They park their cars in the middle of the freeways (usually sideways) and walk home. I've lived in both places and would rather be in Alaska in a snow storm.
I went to school in Houston and they had 3 inches in Wichita Falls and surrounding areas and totally paralyzed everything. Like Seattle, they had no removal equipment and so what seems like a nuisance to us in Wyoming is stunning in other areas.
Only 310 more inches and you will catch up with us here in Valdez. But more snow is coming this weekend.
That is true also Oso Blanco. My dad works for a seafood company here in Seattle, and he spent a winter in Nome, Alaska one year. He said that it is so cold there, that the traction on the roads is like driving on bare pavement because the rubber on the tires sticks to it. Usually our snow happens just below freezing. It warms up, starts to melt, then freezes into solid sheets of ice at night. When the sun comes up it starts to melt again, and it is a bit like trying to walk and drive on greased porcelain.
I lived in Seattle for a while near Lake Washington. The other thing that happens in that area is that some places will get little snow, others will get dumped on. Few plows, heavy wet snow, no salting, refreezing at night. Three million (more now?) trying to get to work.
You guys don't get it. Seattle doesn't get large accumulations of snow. They don't have many snow snowplows and a large part of the city is hills. So cut them a little bit of slack, if you please, nobody in their right mind likes to see a big city and it's services brought to a complete standstill!!
Yes people up north don't cry when they get a lot of snow...but when they get 95 degree days of hot and humid weather they sure do cry.
From one Retired SFC to another, ahhhh, I remember fondly our field problems at Ft Greeley and the winter course at NWTC.........
On a serious note.......gotta love those westsiders. We've had a foot here in the North Idaho Panhandle and it's like any other day. Drop it into four wheel drive and off we go. I do love watching the ex-Califorians drive here in the winter. They think because they have a 3/4 ton pickup they can drive 70 mph.
Yes people up north don't cry when they get a lot of snow...but when they get 95 degree days of hot and humid weather they sure do cry.----Phil, sometimes we hit the low 100s but we don't have the humidity. What we do are three awesome lakes and several rivers to swim in.
Barlow----why not? They make the decision to live there, they drive like idiots, so no, I don't feel a whole lot of compassion for them.
Ok everyone needs to stop judging the people in Western Washington. There are not many plows, they don't salt the roads, and the snow is super wet and slippery - not powdery. I lived in Rochester, NY for 8 years. Yes we laugh at how dramatized the weather is but we now know that there is a good reason for it. Seattle gets a snow storm MAYBE once a year and usually nothing like the one this week. So they don't spend our tax money on things like snow removal because it would just sit unused most of the time. So we all take a day or two off of work or school and enjoy a snow day! Some people have to get to work so they go out in the snow. Yes they may not drive well in the snow but Lord I saw my share of horrible drivers in Rochester. Bad drivers are everywhere. I hated the snow living in Rochester because I had to deal with it on a daily basis for 5 or 6 months out of the year. Here it is so fun! I don't drive anywhere and go sledding with the kids or build a snowman. Stop judging the "westsiders" and take a moment to really think about the situation.
It's not just snow that causes the problem, folks. It's the ice. Whether the ice builds on top of the snow or under it, good luck going up or down a 500 foot hill that is completely iced over. It's not only impossible to drive, it's impossible to walk. Add in a whole lot of fir trees that are laden with snow and ice, and you have branches crashing onto cars and people, branches crashing onto power lines, causing power outages, and even trees crashing onto houses. It doesn't take much heavy, wet snow (or ice) to cause huge problems in a city built on seven hills.
Its not just Washington and Oregon getting the snowstorm. I woke up this morning in Montana to a new blanket of about 4 inches and its still snowing and supposed to be thru Friday. Bring it on...the more the better in my book. 4 inches is nothing...12 inches is nothing...at least to places that are used to getting a lot of snow. To places that aren't this is a big deal and I hope that all goes well for those affected that aren't used to a snowstorm like this. Stay safe and warm. Me, I'll be out playing in it...as soon as I'm off work.
I was up until 1am this morning plowing out the block and back up at 5:30 to do it again in Missoula. fun stuff! But after no snow for 2 1/2 months- I'll take it!
up here in north idaho its similar. it snowed back before christmas, then it all melted away. it was 56 degrees a week ago, now we are supposed to get snow for the next few days. weird weather. but this much snow is nothing to get worked up about. just about 4 years ago the snow was almost 4 feet deep. we havent seen more than a foot at a time since then.
I love Montana....Big Sky Country.
The friggin' drama from these newscasters isn't funny anymore..... Keep it up and the next time a major event is going to happen NO one will listen. (Schmucks)
Someone piss in you coffee this morning? Or are you always an arse?
George you calm down too... Fed Ups point is legitimate. If the media continually "over-hypes" storms or any weather events, then we never know when to take the warnings seriously and take steps to mitigate the possibilities. Anyway I hope the weather is not too severe for you in the NW. I grew up in WA and not now live in OK and so miss the mountains, streams, Mt Rainier and the great people.
Actually, the NOAA is who was hyping the storm to us at first, the media just followed up on their reports. Conditions change very rapidly in Washington. This storm was forecast back at the beginning of the month, then was out of the forecast, then back in it again. The snow totals expected have changed several times due to the unique meteorological conditions in the Pacific Northwest (convergence zones, rain shadows, snow shadows, storms that form near Hawaii before heading our way and change rapidly during that time, blasts of arctic air from Canada... I could go on). We have a new coastal radar system that has made the forecasts much more accurate of late, but it's still quite complex. A couple of years ago I read that tossing a coin gives you a more accurate reading of whether it will be rainy or not than asking a meteorologist.
George, I think they should forecast banana slug alerts for WA. Those things are GROSS!!
I live here in South Lake Tahoe and right now the bars are having pray for snow parties, alot. We would definately welcome 1' of snow. We have had zilch up until now and it is killing alot of our businesses that rely on the ski resorts to have snow. Our local paper just came out and said we have a possiblilty of 1' through the weekend, here's hoping. At this time last year, we already had over 12 feet of snow.
Heavenly with no snow is not heavenly. I'll pray you guys get some snow as well. South Lake Tahoe is some beautiful country.
Briefly had whiteout conditions in the Idaho Panhandle, but certainly nothing that would be a precursor to the return of Jesus, for Christ's sake. Weather forecasters. What a bunch of drama queens.
No snowpocalypse? It's already turned to rain in Boise...I guess Jesus isn't coming here either.
Grew up in Ptld, Oregon so yes they get these storms every few years and it's annoying and dangerous but it doesn't last forever. Glad to read that they are salting some of the roads because no matter how good of driver you are-ice wins.
Wonder if the guy in Portland who keeps trying to outlaw studded tires is sliding around on the roads today or getting to stay home.
I live on the other side of the Cascades, and am grateful to have the studded tires on my car today. The roads are horrible today, and will be for a while yet.
Elk, they can have their studded tires IF they pay a fee for using them so that the rest don't have to foot the $40M/yr bill for reparing the damage they do to the roads.
I have 18 inches on my deck. I wouldn't have any problem if someone would plow out my driveway!! I live in the Columbia River Gorge - real mountains. And yes, I have studs on my snow tires - wouldn't have it any other way. It's the metal studs you can't have. I have plastic type studs.
that's okay though - it is warming up and melting. The people in Seattle and Portland do have steep mountainous streets to deal with and only Portland is able to plow streets - Seattle isn't equipped to handle snow.
Must be a slow news day. But the weatherman wants his turn at the new also. Also it's better then hearing anything about Michael Jackson.
Snow here in Seattle is treacherous. There is a layer of ice underneath and there are no flat roads. You're either driving up a hill or down...or should I say in this case...sliding.
It IS treacherous, when I left the safety of my garage, the hill to my garage made my car a huge sled......I used to slide down my driveway sideways just to get to the road, and forget about getting back up it until spring......... Sure don't miss the chaos that the snow causes there, I never had the luxury of being able to stay at home and just enjoy it, I always was EXPECTED to be at work no matter what.......
you're the reason it's so dangerous to be out there....diehards who must drive their vehicles in a snowstorm or dangerous driving conditions no matter what.... Anyone who would "slide down their driveway" knowing in advance they will not be able to control their vehicle is an idiot. Not only do you endanger yourself, you endanger others outside. Stay off the road, take the bus or just don't drive your vehicle.
You should never drive a vehicle on the road if you know in advance your ability to control it is compromised by weather conditions, or it is not recommended to be out there. Tell your boss to go screw himself.
I doubt if the unemployment office will award benefits for that.
"Tell your boss to go screw himself."
Okay, but you better hope you don't need to visit the ER today.
I was a utility line crew worker, I HAD to be at work, because of power outages, and my car? It was a Honda 4 wheel drive.........
This story is laughable! We call "3 to 6 inches expected" a mild Tuesday.
It is the news that makes it laughable. A little snow, wind then rain. Nothing new. It is winter.
Alaska, now that is an adventure. Spent a few months in Wassila. Blessed Be to all Alaskans, but forgive me if I keep the rain & wind that comes with living on the coast.
The weather people call everything a 'storm'. I don't know why. I have theories only. I remember when all the news could be covered in less than 1/2 hr. Including the weather. Now the weather report can yank your chain for a full hour locally and still tell you 'things could change - we will keep you updated as they do'. (Look up in the sky and smell the air.)
Just a few short lived inches here in Portland. I will keep you updated - things could change.
Wow the press sure is looking for some sort of major weather report. It is called winter, cold and snow and freezing rain.
I just moved from Washington State last week. The problem is NOT the snow, its all of the hills and steep grades, making it virtually IMPOSSIBLE to get around. Every single road I had out from my house there, was a steep hill, that is why it is pretty significant when it snows in the Seattle and surrounding area's.
Glad I made it out when I did, now I am happy in 78 degree weather in Florida, enjoying the snow from the warmth of my living room on the Gulf of Mexico....
Good points, Slinger. I too lived in Seattle before relocating to the Southeast (Atlanta), and the general topography of the area in conjunction with woefully inexperienced "snow drivers" and limited plows mean that even just a couple of inches can virtually shut down the city.
There are many things I miss about living in the emerald city, but the weather is most certainly not among them.
Personally, having visited Seattle many times, even trying to WALK up and down those hills on snow and ice would be a challenge. Still, we love the place, though.
I don't know why the writer or writers at MSNBC are using the word EPIC......This is the second time I have seen this description. The other time was for the massive snow storm that hit Alaska. They used the term " Epic Proportions".......seems a bit over exaggerated.
The Odyssey was an epic. This is no years-long journey around the globe, so... yeah, I'm gonna have to say Epic is out.
Nothing better than brewing a large latte with a couple of fingers of Bailey's and watching the show outside.
Now you're talking.
12" is not a lot of snow. I am from Minnesota, and we have had pretty much no snow! I would welcome a nice snow storm!!!
Agreed....I live in the Poconos & PA has seen very little snow as well....I need a snow day!! I hear this system should be in our neck of the woods by Saturday!!
I hear you Amy, I work for the school district and we have not had a snow day in 7 years!!! Weather guy here says maybe an inch or two on Friday, not enough for a day off :( Bring it on, but not on the weekend :)
Well, when people there remark at the wonderful 2 percent grade they have, then you know driving on flag grounds, with 1" or 10'-0" of snow, doesn't make much different.
Know it well, my husband is a Duluthian!!
For the Seattle area- 12" is a HUGE amount of snow. They might get a skiff once a year- so 12" is a big deal. They have hills that if they are icy- the sand trucks can't even get up! and to top it off- most drivers there have no idea how to drive in snow- no less have tires that can do the job! Those of us that live in snow country (Montana for me) have all season or snow tires put on. Most in the coastal regions have highway tires that just don't do well in the snow
@PMoscatelli - Maybe you could move to Seattle and teach them how to drive Duluth-style in the winter? Could be a money maker for ya....I live in MN as well choose to stay far away from Duluth when roads are icy.
Lived in Seattle for 55 years & the problem isn't the people born & raised there but the constant influx of people who moved there from more temperate areas. When it snows an inch they scurry like rats on a sinking ship. In a panic they buy out stores for bread, milk, gas, ect., to last for the next 2 weeks. The weathermen, none of whom are from Seattle, shreek & howl to stir a pannic & raise their ratings. But the people I know made there plans at the start of winter, are hoping for more, & are out having a blast in it while not missing a minet at work.
The North West is indeed beautiful but would not stay longer than two weeks. The weather there is abysmal at best and seems to explain some for the strange nature of those who live there. Glad you love your home ...... different people, different views. As for me ... I will stay south.
It's fuggin winter, it fuggin snows...is this really news? There has to be more happening in the world than weather!
Watch what you are saying Robert-2241664. If you get your wish they will probably spend all their time ragging on the X Governor of Alaska and that has become a lot more " BORING " then the weather.
It's gonna be sunny & 72 degrees today here in Southern California :-D
Would rater live in a snow-belt than anywhere in California.
wonderful Tony................we do not need more people.
Optomyst, Oregonians feel the very same way when the so-called 'Californicaters' migrate northward to escape your high cost of living. Paraphrasing what a former governor of our state once said, 'Come and visit but don't plan on staying here'.
Good.......>>You stay there and we'll stay here. Perfect.
Yes a few inches of snow in Seattle seems laughable to many of you but the hills make it trecherous to get around in, plus the snow is wet and heavy so trees, power lines, and buildings all suffer under the weight. Also we're affected by the extreme cold pushing down from the north and under all this sloppy wet snow you get a heavy layer of ice so coming off a hill can be harrowing. I remember coming down SE 180th and hit a patch of ice that spun me well over three times before I wound up off the road on my side!! Our neighbors across the street who moved here from Montana a few years ago laughed at how Seattle dealt with the snow until his time came to get around in it and he's not laughing any more!!
Must have been Orilla Road...........I wouldn't even THINK about coming down that road in snow.........You are one BRAVE sould to have tried it..........
I've lived in many parts of the US. What you are accustomed to where you live is what's important. If you're not used to snow, rain, whatever, then what seems to others elsewhere to be a minor inconvenience can be a major situation for those unaccustomed.
I remember when I was stationed in the Navy in Jacksonville, FL in 1988. We had a snow storm around Christmas. I was used to feet of snow when I lived in New England states. I knew what to do, how to drive in it, etc. Floridians had no idea. We had 6 inches, but that was enough to shut down the city and I-95 out of Florida.
Point is, have some understanding of the situation for those who are unaccustomed to various weather events.
LOL. So many clueless people. So little knowledge about what they are talking about. Yet they have so much to say.
If you knew anything about this part of the country you would know that this is a lot of snow for us. And that we have little in the way of equipment to deal with it. That we get so little of it that when we do, it can be and is a real problem.
But ignorance is such a wonderful thing to have. It must be. Because for so many of you, showing yours off seems to bring you such great joy.
Is this a disaster? No. But it is more then a major pain in the arse for a lot of people. Is it news? Yes it is. It is if it is you that has to deal with it.
George.............Keep safe on those slippery slopes.....................they have no idea how beautiful Seattle is. We do.
A walk in the park, People seem to forget. The storm we had here in eastern Washington in 96; that was a snow storm, almost 90 inches total. They called that a 100 year storm, which we seem to be getting more and more lately, but it’s just a conspiracy cooked up by the government about global weather change. (LOL)
That was a bad year abut it was 90 inches total for the year. I have been here 65 years and never seen a two footer. We are not on a great lake or really high up.
I wish you people would stop this "we get this much snow and that much snow-blah blah blah" You do no live in Seattle and driving up and down steep hills can be challenging. I am sure people in Bavaria or Switzerland can one up us to but who cares. You live in a place that gets a lot of snow like Bismark or North Dakota, good for you. We are not you, we are Seattle. I really don't care how many drives you have on your car, no one is an "expert" at driving in Snow or on Ice. It is dynamic driving and having the right tires and gear for your vehicle.
I'm loving my snow day.
Hmm.. I'd think the Republican global warming deniers would be all over this story...
Perhaps the reason they're not posting is that they've finally recognized the extreme weather events such as this one can very well be caused by GW. This is old news to many of us who have been tracking the studies of climatologists.
GW? I thought he wasn't President anymore!!!!!!
@RTypo we're laughing so hard at you we can hardly type. Of course most of us were at work at the time of your post,so that might also have something to do with it.