Saturday’s volatile mix of freezing rain and snow left roads in Snohomish and Island counties icy, closing some roads and causing hassles for motorists.
The weather was expected to warm up today. Forecasts called for a balmy 45 degrees, with a chance of just regular rain. Temperatures are expected to hover around the 40s and high 30s through the week, the National Weather Service reported.
The warmer weather will bring welcome relief to Washington State Patrol troopers, who spent Saturday scrambling from one fender-bender or car in the ditch to another.
“It’s been unbelievable all night,” a State Patrol dispatcher said. “It got a little crazy.”
Cars were off the road throughout Snohomish, Skagit and Island counties.
In Island County, the Deception Pass bridge was clogged because of vehicles unable to negotiate the slick conditions. Also in Island County, numerous drivers slid off the slushy road, but no major incidents were reported, said Jan Smith, public information officer for the Island County Sheriff’s Office.
The treacherous road conditions caused up to 40 drivers to lose control of their vehicles and run off the road on Camano Island late Saturday afternoon, Smith said. East Camano Road, North Camano Road and Arrowhead Road were closed for about an hour while officials moved the stranded vehicles.
Until the road conditions improve, “residents are encouraged to stay off the road unless they must travel,” Smith said. If people have to travel, they should go slowly, she added.
Rain started falling in the region around 1 p.m. Saturday and soon turned to freezing drizzle and snow, said Johnny Burg, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Seattle.
The cold weather may continue through early this morning, and some parts of the county may get up to 2 inches of snow, Burg said.
Still, temperatures are expected to warm up later in the day, Burg said.
“It will just rain,” he said.
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