Ice, snow possible, forecasters say

Published 10:46 pm Friday, December 12, 2008

Ice and wind are expected throughout the county this weekend, and officials are urging people to be prepared.

A storm carrying snow was expected to move farther north than earlier forecast, but temperatures were expected to drop below freezing. The mountains and some area hills were expected to pick up snow this afternoon.

The cold is expected to linger through the week, forecasters say.

“At this point, it’s hard to say what exactly the situation will look like,” state Department of Transportation spokesman Sean McDermott said. “We are ready to hit the storm.”

The quickly changing forecast makes it difficult to predict the exact conditions, but it’s better to be prepared for the worst, McDermott said.

At Pepboys in Everett, tire sales were brisk Friday, said Ryan Elfstrom, who works in service and sales.

“At first sign of snowfall, people usually show up,” he said.

Drivers should drive slower than the posted speed limit this weekend and watch out for ice in shaded areas and on ramps, overpasses and bridges, McDermott said.

Avoiding unnecessary travel this weekend also is a good idea, he said. If you have to drive, allow more space between your vehicle and other cars.

“If you haven’t driven in the snow before, now is not the time to learn,” McDermott said.

Drivers should consider carrying a safety kit equipped with warm clothes and tire chains. Also, carrying some extra traction — such as a bag of kitty litter — is good to have just in case, McDermott said.

As many as 100 plow trucks are ready to go out clearing the roads north of Seattle and all the way up to Canada, McDermott said.

Repair crews also will be ready to go if wind causes power outages, Snohomish County PUD spokesperson Neil Neroutsos said.

“Every time we have winds of about 40 miles per hour, we tend to have power outages,” he said.

The cold gets to you much faster because of the wind, said Johnny Burg with the National Weather Service in Seattle.

As temperatures continue to drop, remember not to leave your pets outdoors for the night.

Insulate any exposed pipes to protect them from freezing, Burg said.

People who are homeless should seek shelter, he said.

To give people refuge from the cold, several emergency shelters will be open in the county throughout the weekend.

Reporter Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452 or kyefimova@heraldnet.com.