That’s right – it’s snowing out (but it’ll likely melt), and here are the latest school and traffic updates for the White Center area:
- SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: 2 HOURS LATE:
Buses Operate on Snow Routes.
No Door-to-Door Service.
No A.M. or P.M. Head Start.
No A.M. or P.M. Kindergarten.
Updated: 5:42 a.m. February 26, 2009
Highline Public Schools will operate two hours late today. Emergency bus transportation is in effect.
*There will be no breakfast, no morning classes for preschool, kindergarten, ECEAP, or PSSC. Afternoon classes for these programs will be on time.
*Schools will dismiss at regular times.
Snow and power failures can cause disruptions for schools and families. During these difficult times, HIghline Public Schools will do all it can to communicate vital information to parents and students.
Our top priority is student safety!
Here’s the latest from the National Weather Service:
Statement as of 4:35 AM PST on February 26, 2009
… Additional snowfall of an inch or two and freezing temperatures will warrant caution this morning…
Hazardous driving conditions will be the rule across western Washington this morning due to snow that has already fallen… possible accumulations of another inch or two… and freezing temperatures.
Scattered snow showers will continue this morning as the upper level low pressure system over the area moves eastward. Local
additional accumulations of an inch or two are possible. In addition temperatures have fallen below freezing across most of western Washington this morning… so roads and sidewalks will be icy even if they are free of snow.These conditions will be relatively short lived. Temperatures will climb above freezing by noon today with highs around 40… and most of the area will have partly sunny skies.
If you’re going to be out driving, here are live webcam views:
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Slight dusting of snow has set off the usual “will my kid’s school be open or late today” alarms, and here’s the scoop for Monday morning Feb. 9th:
- Seattle Schools are opening two hours late:
- 2 Hours Late.
- No A.M. or P.M. Kindergarten.
- No A.M. or P.M. Head Start.
- No Door-to-Door Service.
- Active Dates: 02/09/09 05:36 AM to 02/09/09 04:00 PM
- Last Modified: 02/09/09 05:42 AM
- Highline Schools are opening on time.
- Westside School follows Seattle Schools lead (with a scheduled 9:30am start time), but we just got an email from them and they’ll be opening on time.
- Don’t worry – the weather should warm up today, turning any snow into rain/water.
Of course it’s a snow day today, with all schools (far as we know at least) closed, kids at home and icy streets awaiting sleds.
Which also means: STREET CLOSURES due to snow and ice.
Here are two in the White Center area that we know of, courtesy King County Road Services:
- CLOSED: The entrance to SR509 at 5th Ave South @ 11248 North in Boulevard Park due to ICE HAZARD
- OPEN BUT ICE HAZARD: SW 108th St. between 4th Ave. SW & 12th Ave. SW in White Center
While it hasn’t started snowing yet (as of 7am), The National Weather Service has a Winter Weather Advisory for today (Wednesday Dec. 17th), and says we should expect up to four inches of snow over the next 24 hours.
Also, most schools in the White Center area are closed, including all Highline Schools (Evergreen you’re off the hook but JFK opens at 10:30am) in anticipation of this major snow event:
- SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: CLOSED
No Out-of-District Transport. Uncertain weather forecast and concern for staff and student safety. - HIGHLINE SCHOOL DISTRICT: CLOSED
Administrative Offices Open. - JOHN F. KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL: 10:30am START
- WESTSIDE SCHOOL: CLOSED
- ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI SCHOOL: 2 HOURS LATE
- HAMLIN-ROBINSON SCHOOL: CLOSED
- TUKWILA SCHOOL DISTRICT: 2 HOURS LATE
No. A.M. ECEAP No. A.M. Preschool - FEDERAL WAY SCHOOL DISTRICT: 2 HOURS LATE
Emergency Snow Routes, WATCH FOR UPDATES, No AM Kindergarten, Preschool, or Shuttles. No AM/PM HDST, ECEAP, ELO, or Puget Sound Skills, No Activity Buses, No Elementary Breakfast Programs, No Out-of-District Transportation.
And now, your daily fix of a Winter Weather Advisory:
… Winter Weather Advisory in effect until 10 am PST Thursday…
The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the Seattle… Tacoma… Bremerton and Hood Canal areas… and the southwest interior… lower Chehalis valley and the central coast… which is in effect until 10 am PST Thursday. The Winter Storm Watch is no longer in effect.
Lower snow accumulations are expected over the southern part of western Washington today and tonight. This is due mainly to the central Puget Sound region being shadowed by the Olympics and southwest winds bringing above freezing air inland up the lower Chehalis valley from the central coast.
Over the central Puget Sound region… including Seattle… Tacoma… Bremerton and the Hood Canal area… up to 2 inches of snow is expected today. Another 1 to 3 inches may fall tonight as a convergence zone forms over the area. A total accumulation of 2 to 5 inches is expected through tonight… with the greatest amounts over the East Part.
Over the southwest interior… 1 to 3 inches of snow is expected today with an additional 1 to 3 inches tonight. The greatest amounts will be closer to the Cascades and east of the I-5
corridor.Over the lower Chehalis valley and the central coast… up to 2 inches of snow is expected today with another trace to 2 inches expected tonight. Total accumulations will be locally up to 4 inches. The greatest amounts will be further inland away from the ocean. Warmer air will produce mainly rain along the coast… with rain spreading further inland this afternoon as southwest winds send the warmer air up the Chehalis valley. The rain or rain and snow mixed will change back to snow tonight as the air mass cools off.
Over the Admiralty Inlet area… including Whidbey Island and Port Townsend… 1 to 3 inches of snow is expected today with up to 2 inches additional accumulation tonight. The lower amounts here are due to a combination of shadowing from the Olympics and the presence of slightly warmer air moving east through the Strait of Juan de Fuca. However… cooler air will move over area tonight as northeast outflow from the Fraser valley begins to develop. Total accumulations of 1 to 5 inches is expected.
Precautionary/preparedness actions…
Monitor weather forecasts and Road conditions carefully. Stay indoors if at all possible. Travel is likely to be adversely impacted through Thursday.
The National Weather Service issued another winter storm watch Monday at 3:28pm, and this one looks like it could dump some real, heavy snow – 3-6 inches by Wednesday night!
The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued a Winter Storm Watch…which is in effect from late Tuesday night through late Wednesday night.
Heavy snow is likely over western Washington on Wednesday. Three to six inches are possible in certain areas… including the east Puget Sound lowlands… the northwest and southwest interiors… and the Strait of Juan de Fuca area. Snow in these areas will begin in the north late Tuesday night and spread south Wednesday morning.
By Wednesday night three to six inches of new snow are possible.
Other areas… including the Seattle metropolitan area and the Kitsap peninsula… could get less snow. Here models show one or two inches are possible. On the coast it is possible that conditions will be warm enough for rain part of the time… or mixed rain and snow. However it is not certain that sub-warning amounts will fall in these areas and the Winter Storm Watch extends to them as well.
The Cascades and Olympics will also receive heavy snow… with one or two feet of new snow likely.
Snow levels will be at sea level through much of the event so virtually all of the precipitation will be in the form of snow.
Precautionary/preparedness actions…
Monitor weather forecasts. If you have to travel…Tuesday is likely to be a much better day than Wednesday.
Here’s some preliminary info on school closures/delays for the White Center area for Monday, Dec. 15th:
CLOSED MON. DEC. 15th:
STARTING 2 HOURS LATE:
Best bet though is to access SchoolReport.org, which gets info directly from school districts.
OTHER SCHOOL CLOSURE SOURCES:
Also, don’t forget to listen to an AM news station, as they’re usually on top of these things.
We’ll be re-checking and re-posting as we get info, so re-load this page or check back in the morning.
Checking the roads and DOT webcams this morning shows that overall, most main Freeway roads are clear of snow and possibly passable – IF you have to get somewhere.
However, it looks like there’s plenty of black ice, so if you can, play it safe and stay home, make a snowman, and email your photo to us.
But, as usual, drive slowly, in low gears while on the slick stuff, and try to remember your Driver’s Ed lessons of how to steer into a slide when your car starts careening out of control.
Here are a few webcams worth checking out:
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