Snow may stay awhile

Published 4:28 pm Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Commuters today may need a red-nosed reindeer and a sleigh to get to work.

Forecasters predict that several inches of snow could accumulate in the lowlands of Snohomish County and even more could pile up in the mountains.

“It’s looking like a pretty good snow event,” Accuweather.com meteorologist Andy Mussoline said.

Snow is expected to start falling this morning and could continue through the day, he said.

Even a dusting of snow has the potential to make already icy roads more treacherous.

“If you don’t have to venture out on the roads, don’t,” Washington State Patrol trooper Keith Leary said.

For those who must hit the roads, preparation and patience will help get them safely to their destinations.

“Our biggest collision-causing violation is simply drivers driving too fast for the road and weather conditions,” Leary said.

School districts’ decisions on whether to open, cancel or start late were expected to be made early this morning.

In Mukilteo School District, for instance, transportation staff planned to begin checking out known trouble spots between 3 and 4 a.m. while monitoring weather forecasts, said Andy Muntz, a school district spokesman.

Several of the region’s schools started two hours late Monday and Tuesday.

Arctic cold roared into the region Saturday and the continuing chill set record-low temperatures Monday. A snowstorm Sunday created picture-postcard conditions but left a slick layer of ice and compact snow on many roads. Much of it’s still there.

Rescue officials have been rushing from one traffic accident to the next all week.

Since Sunday, the State Patrol has responded to 37 accidents in Snohomish County. Local police and the Snohomish County sheriff’s deputies responded to dozens more.

AAA of Washington saw a 50 percent increase in the number of emergency calls it received Monday, spokeswoman Jennifer Cook said.

Road conditions were worst Sunday, but many people stayed off the roads.

Now, officials fear fresh snowfall will cause more problems.

“We’ve been very busy and will remain busy,” Cook said.

People need to practice good winter-driving habits, she said.

That means slowing down and leaving plenty of distance between vehicles. It’s also a good idea to have your car prepared with an emergency kit and a full tank of gas, and make sure all the engine fluids are topped off.

“One of the most vulnerable parts of the vehicle during cold and extreme heat is the battery,” Cook said. “If you don’t have enough juice in there, it’s not going to have enough power to get your car started.”

Road crews will be working around the clock plowing snow and spreading de-icer and sand.

“We have to make sure every truck we own is out on the road,” said Patrick Moylan, state Department of Transportation maintenance and operations manager.

The cold snap has been especially hard on the region’s homeless, said Dana Libby, the corps officer for Everett Salvation Army.

About two dozen people slept at an emergency shelter Monday night, Libby said. The Everett Gospel Mission was full.

Although the decision to open the shelter is made daily depending on the weather, Libby said he expected to keep the shelter’s doors open through Saturday.

Ted Buehner, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said the winter weather is going to stick around into next week.

While temperatures may warm slightly today, reaching into the low 30s, things will drop back down again into the teens Thursday, he said.

Then, it’s predicted to be cold through Sunday — when a new storm could bring even more snow.

And that snow could stick around to make Bing Crosby’s dream true.

Herald Writer Eric Stevick contributed to this report.