Local News

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   Related Stories • Evening commute shouldn't be as bad as this morning 1/28/08 • Snow brings delight along with dangers, school closures 1/28/08 • Sun provides short-lived break from bad weather 1/28/08   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Sunday, January 27, 2008 If you've got snow, prepare for more A big winter storm is forecast for Tuesday. By Scott Pesznecker, Herald Writer Snow was predicted to blanket Snohomish County today, but it might just be a warm-up for a bigger storm headed this way. The National Weather Service in Seattle is monitoring another system that could develop into a full-blown winter storm by Tuesday, dumping more snow than the 1 to 3 inches that was predicted to fall in the lowlands by this morning, forecaster Dennis D'Amico said. As of Saturday, meteorologists could not tell whether the incoming storm is more likely to bring rain or snow, he said. "It has the potential to be a major winter storm," D'Amico said. Snohomish County officials do not plan to open the Snohomish County Emergency Operations Center until more information is available. "They are always on standby if things get really bad, but at this point, they don't see any circumstances necessitating that need," county spokesman Christopher Schwarzen said. About an inch of new snow was expected to fall in the Snohomish County lowlands later today, with the possibility of snow in the forecast Monday and Tuesday. A snow advisory issued by the national weather service was set to expire at 4 a.m. today. Up to a foot of snow was forecast to fall in the north Cascades by early today. The National Weather Service issued heavy snow and avalanche warnings for the western slopes of the mountains. Temperatures could remain in the mid-30s until mid-week, D'Amico said. Rain is forecast for Wednesday. For the next few days, drivers should watch out for black ice on bridges, offramps and onramps, as well as on curves and shaded areas of roadways, said Roy Scalf, operations manager of road maintenance for the Snohomish County Public Works Department. The ground is already cold from recent weather, and near-freezing temperatures during the next few days could keep snowfall from melting, Scalf said. Work crews spread de-icer on county roads on Friday, and the county also has 20 plow and sander trucks on standby. The state Department of Transportation has also been sanding highways and freeways, with about 100 plows and de-icer trucks on standby, transportation spokesman Mike Murphy said. "We're more concerned at this point with ice, because we expect temperatures to dip and stay below freezing," he said. The city of Everett also has eight sand trucks, seven of which have plows, and two graders on standby, city spokeswoman Kate Reardon said. If the roads are icy, commuters should either ride the bus or consider staying home for the day, Everett Fire Department Battalion Chief Steve Parker said. "It helps us, because as soon as that white stuff comes down, people are sliding all over the place," he said. Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.

1. Fire destroys Silver Lake landmark 2. Tree clearing, mud slide angers Everett neighbor 3. County tackles bikini barista rules 4. Six people injured in Machias car crash 5. Edmonds councilwoman dies at 59 6. Search for missing hiker called off 7. Later start for school day unlikely in Marysville 8. Extended tax credit should spur home sales 9. Hopes for Snohomish excursion train may hinge on railway purchase 10. Designing a new business 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Gough on track to keep job • Jazz vocalist headlines NPAC • Mountlake Terrace makes football history • Tax revenue sagging, city budgets lagging • ‘Touch of Magic' show opens at Gallery North • Jackson repeats as South champs • Holiday Bazaars Calendar • Meadowdale storms back to grab title • Edmonds moves to Fire District 1 • Boeing will build, flight test and deliver 787s in South Carolina to spe ... • Snohomish County EDC promoting job growth in key industry clusters • $4 million grant to advance brain tumor research has Everett links • Providence medical center construction tops off its 12-story steel frame ... • Tulalip affordable housing project to be financed by KeyBank, Raymond Ja ... • Arlington's Lak of Ink has a growing following for Luke Kooyman's creati ... • Bank of the Northwest formed • Cascade Bank earns $1.6 million