Historic winter storm likely to blast Northwest
USA Today
Unlike most Northwest storms, snow may fall even at sea
level, including in Seattle and Portland.
Up to a foot of snow could blanket the Seattle area, a city
that typically sees about 6 inches a year. If 10 inches are measured, it would
match the third-biggest snowstorm on record in Seattle, according to National
Weather Service meteorologist Johnny Burg in Seattle.
The most recent big snowstorm in Seattle was in November
1985, when 7.8 inches fell, according to the weather service.
The storm and its heavy snowfall could force roads to close
in the passes of the Cascades, clog streets with snow and force flight delays
and cancellations, AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski says.
Near the coast, he says, the snow will be heavy, wet and
difficult to shovel. The combination of the snow and gusty winds could down
trees, taking power lines with them.
Light snow prompted some school districts in Washington and
Oregon to close or delay opening Tuesday, and delays or closings are likely
again Wednesday. Transportation
Department trucks were out spraying de-icer and sanding roadways.
The weather service placed winter storm watches and
warnings for most of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Several feet of snow
could fall in the Cascades and northern Rockies, where avalanche danger is
high.
Later Wednesday and into Thursday, the snow should end,
Burg says, but rain will begin to fall across western Washington, potentially
leading to river flooding this week due to the rain and snow melt.
If the past is any hint, several inches of snow could
paralyze Seattle. The city owns relatively few snowplows and Seattle drivers are
mostly inexperienced with driving in snow or ice.
"Snow is beautiful to look at, but it's kind of a hindrance
for us to work and commute," says John Lee, 23, who
works in Seattle and lives in Mill Creek. "The
snowstorm is going to cause a little bit more havoc and chaos on the road."
The cold, raw weather isn't confined to the Northwest: In
central California, citrus farmers were nervous about a hard freeze that's hit
the nation's largest fresh-fruit market this week. The weather service said
temperatures dropped to as low as 19 degrees early Tuesday, and hard freeze
warnings were in effect again for early Wednesday morning.
"It will be a week before we see what damage there may or
may not be," said Dean Thonesen of Sun West Fruit, east of Fresno
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