EDMONDS — Thousands of people across Snohomish County lost power after a snow and wind storm swept the area Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.
Over 28,000 customers were without power early Wednesday, according to the Snohomish County Public Utility District. Most of the outages were in the Edmonds, Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace area, with others in Lake Stevens, Marysville, Monroe, Snohomish and Sultan.
The weight of snow combined with wind gusts to knock down limbs and trees, some falling and taking out power lines.
Utility crews worked throughout the evening to restore power, according to the PUD. By 3 p.m. Wednesday, over 11,000 people were still without power.
The National Weather Service in Seattle let a winter weather advisory for western Snohomish County’s lowlands, including Everett, expire early Wednesday morning. The agency said in a tweet snow would change to rain through Wednesday afternoon, prompting the warning’s expiration.
The service reported most of Snohomish County was under at least a few inches of snow Wednesday morning, with Everett seeing 4 inches and Edmonds getting 6 ½.
Terry Jackson throws a piece of tree branch as he uses a chainsaw to clean up storm debris on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Another 2 inches of snow could accumulate in the lowlands Thursday, the service predicts, but the likelihood of more buildup decreases steeply that night.
A winter weather advisory continues in low-lying inland parts of Snohomish County, including Gold Bar, Lake Stevens and Monroe, among others, until Wednesday afternoon, with new snowfall of up to an inch possible.
Farther east, a winter storm warning will remain through Wednesday afternoon in regions above 1,000 feet in elevation. Between 2 and 4 inches of snow may fall on Darrington, Index and Skykomish.
The National Weather Service warned temperatures are likely to drop below freezing Wednesday night, making driving conditions hazardous Thursday morning. The state Department of Transportation reported via Twitter a number of traffic accidents and stuck cars due to the snow.
The department said plows and de-icing equipment were working to clear roads, but encouraged drivers to employ standard winter driving precautions like slowing down and leaving plenty of room between vehicles.
After being closed at North Bend Wednesday morning, eastbound Snoqualmie Pass was open as of noon. The westbound pass is now closed at Cle Elum and Ellensburg, mileposts 85 and 106, due to a major collision, but is expected to reopen around 2 p.m., according to a tweet. The pass got 22 inches of snow since Tuesday, according to its Twitter, and up to another foot is expected today.
Stevens Pass remained open, but chains are required.
A snow plow clears snow off of 92nd Avenue West on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
School closures for Wednesday, Nov. 30
A number of Snohomish County school districts closed or delayed start times Wednesday morning. For an ongoing list of closures across the Puget Sound region, check http://www.flashalertseattle.net/closures-cats.html.
Arlington SD – All schools will be starting two hours late this morning. There will be no out-of-district transportation, no AM/PM APPLE or Presidents Preschool, and no Skills Center or Regional Apprenticeship Program. All bus routes will operate on normal routes this afternoon except for Bus Routes 9 and 19, which will operate on limited routes.
Darrington SD – 2 Hours Late, No out-of-district transportation. No Crawford Loop. No Sturgeon Road.
Edmonds SD – Closed.
Everett Community College – Delayed opening. College opens and classes start at noon.
Everett Public Schools – 2 Hours Late. No a.m. preschool or ECEAP, no out-of-district transportation, buses will be operating on snow routes.
Granite Falls SD – 2 Hours Late, AM/PM Buses on snow routes. No out-of-district transportation; No activity bus.
Index SD – Closed, No out-of-district transportation
Lake Stevens SD – 2 Hours Late, No AM preschool, AM/PM Buses on snow routes. No out-of-district transportation all day, including Sno-Isle.
Lakewood SD – 2 hour late start. Limited routes. No preschool or ECEAP. No out of district transportation.
Marysville SD – 2 Hours Late, AM buses on snow routes. No AM or PM Preschool, No Out-of-District Transportation, and No Skill Center Transportation.
Monroe SD – Closed. No out-of-district transportation, all activities canceled.
Mukilteo SD – Closed due to snow and multiple power outages.
Snohomish SD – Closed.
Stanwood SD – No out-of-district transportation. All schools will be on their normal Wednesday late-start schedule today, Nov. 30. Some buses are operating on snow routes for both morning and afternoon routes. No out-of-district transportation.
Sultan SD – Closed, No out-of-district transportation.
Riley Haun: 425-339-3192; riley.haun@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @RHaunID.
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