The temperature has risen into the forties, so the snowfall has changed to rain, which is expected to continue all week. The side streets are covered with three inches of hardpacked ice, slush on top, with water trapped and pooling. In other words, it’s still tough to get around, and pretty soon a lot of Western Washington will be under water in more ways than one.
Snowmageddon has been an interesting ride. A baby was born on an elevator stuck between floors Wednesday at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma (Blake Thacker entered the world early at 7 pounds, 15 ounces, just short of the 14th floor). 31 inches of snow fell in 24 hours, 90 inches total on Mount Hood, which was great news for skiers. And an avalanche swept a car across the I-90 at the pass, which was hastily closed. Again. Ice closed all three Sea-Tac Airport runways, and the State Patrol responded to more than 2,700 accidents (roughly quadruple the average number); while buildings, roofs and carports collapsed under the snowload. Approximately 300,000 people had no power yesterday, and most will have none for at least a week.
The Governor declared a state of emergency after an ice storm landed on top of heavy snow, and sidewalks in downtown areas are taped off because chunks of snow and ice are falling onto the sidewalks far below.