Updated 7:45 a.m. As predicted, the temperature has warmed up and it’s now raining. The few inches of snow we have is turning into slush. Most of the snow on the main roads in Ballard has melted:
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If today is your garbage day, put those cans out. Seattle Public Utilities:
Residential garbage, recycling, food and yard waste collection is on schedule in the City of Seattle today, Wednesday, Jan. 12. Due to weather conditions, some routes will be starting and finishing later than usual. Customers could experience pickup times later than usual.
This just in from Seattle Public Schools:
As a precaution for the safety of students and staff, Seattle Public Schools will be running two hours late on regular bus routes.
There is no early dismissal for Whitman Middle School today, which had been scheduled. Students will be released at the regular time.
King Count Metro (@kcmetrobus) tweeted this alert:
Most Metro service on snow routes Wed AM thru 9 AM due to snowy/slushy roads. Expect some delays. Dress warm.
Here is information on changes to Metro service. They’re updating this site, so keep refreshing it for the most current information.
Updated 11:30 p.m. We measured two inches of snow on our back porch in East Ballard, and Crown Hill has about three inches. But temperatures are warming, and the forecast calls for rain by morning, turning it all into slush.
Metro says its buses are now on snow routes, and SDOT plows have hit the streets. The updated forecast from the National Weather Service, released just after 9 p.m., calls for the snow to turn to rain by morning — which in theory, means the commute shouldn’t be too big of a headache.
Meanwhile, we took the opportunity to snap some pretty pictures around the neighborhood, starting with Bergen Place.
The festive bell tower makes it feel like the holidays never left.
And a peaceful Olympic Manor.
8 p.m. The snow has finally arrived, a few hours later than the evening commute, which was the forecast. It’s falling steadily and sticking, but meteorologists say it will rain in the early morning hours.
1:40 p.m.: Seattle Public Schools sent out the following advisory:
As a precaution for the safety of students and staff, Seattle Public Schools is canceling all after-school activities today (Tuesday). School will dismiss at the usual times.
Earlier: The forecast calls for 1 to 3 inches of snow in Seattle, beginning after 4 p.m. today and changing to rain after midnight. “Our commutes, both morning and evening, attract bad weather it seems,” said KING 5 Meteorologist Rich Marriott. And as we know, those commutes sometimes turn into nightmares.
So the National Weather Service is advising that “people should seriously consider finishing their afternoon commute early today if at all possible.” And Metro Transit is warning folks to plan ahead, considering the likelihood that afternoon and evening bus routes will be disrupted. We’ll keep you updated.
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Metro driver was reminding us the early buses may not run. That was the 5:40ish (58th/24th) #18. Said specifically that that run wont be going if it snows.
Brilliant cancel the buses if it snows. FYI it is going to be nearly 50 degrees tomorrow I think we can survive this hysteria.
SNOWMAGEDDON! SNOWPOCALYPSE sNOW! SNOW MY GOD!
RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE!! IT’S GONNA BE A BLOODBATH!!!!!
I see no snow! It’s a snowy farce, I tell you!
It is indeed snowing! I’m wondering why the city decides to take such different approaches to weather warnings? The preparation for this bit of snow seems very proactive (chains on busses already, etc.) but our last snap of winter weather left us again at our knees.
9:49pm – Fire has responded to three traffic accidents in the last twenty minutes. Whatever it may do later, it is slick now.
You think the snow will last and schools will be canceled?
As of 10 PM, 2 inches have fallen in Crown Hill
I was out on the bridge just a bit ago, saw two snowplows go by, so they are getting them out there; and about three Metro buses, so they’re plodding through ok.
That’s why I always drive.
Your photo of the bell tower is very pretty, thanks for posting!
By the time I woke up it was all slush. Thanks for sharing the pictures.
Maybe they learned something from the last snowfall? If you got hammered for not being prepared last time, it makes sense to be overprepared this time.
Now that all has melted, what is your opinion of the response? Not much of one needed, but those busses were thorwing sparks all over the place with their chains!