Buses, roads shut down as freezing rain puts Everett in deep freeze

EVERETT — Authorities across Snohomish County warned residents to stay off the roads Friday as freezing rain wreaked havoc overnight for commuters and Christmastime travelers.

Warming temperatures were expected to make travel less dicey going into the holiday weekend, especially for those traveling by sleigh.

Just before 6:30 a.m. Friday, Community Transit suspended all bus service due to the hazardous road conditions for the first time since the mid-1990s, a spokesperson said. Sound Transit express buses were also nixed. That means no service to Seattle and very little within Snohomish County.

Everett Transit had halted service within the city but restarted on two routes after 8 a.m. Those were Route 7 from Everett Community College to Everett Mall, and Route 12 from the mall to Seaway Transit Center. The rest of the Everett Transit routes resumed service at noon.

Community Transit was monitoring the icy conditions and wanted to restore service “as soon as it is safe for customers and employees,” spokesperson Monica Spain said.

Freezing rain can be more dangerous than snow, according to the National Weather Service. It falls as liquid but immediately freezes once it hits the ground, producing another layer of dangerous ice. You might be able to see the rain hit your window Friday morning and quickly turn to ice.

“Our roads and sidewalks are very icy and everyone needs to proceed with great caution,” Snohomish County Public Works Director Kelly Snyder said in a statement. “The freezing rain can be deceiving and look just wet, but it is very slick. Drivers, as always, need to be especially cautious on hills, curves, and in intersections. Our crews are using all the tools we have to give vehicles more traction on these surfaces.”

It can put pressure on tree branches and powerlines. As of 2 p.m. Friday, about 3,000 Snohomish County Public Utility District customers were without power, down from 5,500 earlier in the day. The overnight freezing rain knocked some trees down in the eastern part of the county along U.S. 2 near Sultan and Gold Bar, district spokesperson Aaron Swaney said in an email.

Both directions of U.S. 2 were closed in Gold Bar from near mile post 29 to mile post 33 due to downed trees and ice.

The utility district hoped to “have everything cleaned up by the end of today but we’ll see how restoration efforts go,” Swaney added.

Ferries from Edmonds to Kingston and Mukilteo to Clinton were on one-boat service.

The winter storm warning for all of Western Washington, including Snohomish County, was in effect until 7 p.m. Friday.

The most dangerous conditions were expected to subside by the afternoon, with temperatures rising and rain continuing, but without freezing when it lands. There was still a chance of slight freezing rain in the afternoon. Highs were expected to be in the 40s for the first time in days. Lows Friday night were forecast in the mid 30s to low 40s.

The rain will continue into the weekend as temperatures continue to rise, possibly into the 50s.

Be prepared to walk in a winter wetland, as the heavy rain and melt off could bring a risk of flooding early next week, according to the weather service.

Jake Goldstein-Street: 425-339-3439; jake.goldstein-street@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @GoldsteinStreet.