Let’s face it. We’re just not prepared for this much snow in Western Washington.
On Monday, the proof in Snohomish County was everywhere.
The roof of an industrial warehouse in Marysville collapsed under the weight of snow and ice.
A National Weather Service volunteer in Arlington found that the ruler he was using to measure snow depth was too short for an accurate reading.
Phone banks at AAA of Washington were taking a record number of calls from stranded and disabled drivers.
County road crews with plows got stuck in the snow they were trying to clear. Then, they ran out of places to put the snow.
“It’s crazy,” said Roy Scalf, the county’s road maintenance director. “It’s the biggest snow event anyone can remember in Snohomish County.”
More snow was predicted to fall today in the county. Another bout of weather Christmas Eve and Christmas Day is expected to drop snow, then rain, then more snow, according to the National Weather Service in Seattle.
Another inch is likely in the lowlands, more on the higher hills.
Forecasters predict a gentle warm-up by the weekend that could melt away the deep accumulations.
That might clear roads but also could bring a fresh set of problems.
Many storm drains are frozen and clogged with ice, Scalf said. Localized street flooding is a possibility. Residents are asked to clear the drains.
Melting snow on flat rooftops is another concern.
Snow can weigh up to 20 pounds per cubic foot. A 1,600-square foot building with a foot of snow on the roof could be supporting up to 32,000 extra pounds of weight.
Officials believe heavy snow and ice caused the roof of a Marysville warehouse to collapse Monday morning. No one was injured.
In response, experts warned people to clear snow off some roofs.
“With the current snow conditions, buildings with a flat or low-pitch roof could experience collapse,” Lynnwood Fire Department spokeswoman Marybeth O’Leary said. “For your safety and to reduce damage to your property, snow removal should be done immediately.”
People with steeply pitched roofs shouldn’t have to worry, she said.
On Monday, compact snow and ice again covered many roads, making travel a challenge.
With the warm-up still days away, and more snow in the forecast, experts now are gearing up for a possibly white — and dangerous — Christmas.
“As far as getting to Grandma’s house, if you can stay home, that’s great,” said Jennifer Cook, a regional AAA spokeswoman.
She suggested saving visits with relatives until conditions clear.
“If you’re not comfortable driving, you don’t want to put your family or yourself in any danger,” she said.
If people do plan to venture out onto snowy, ice-covered roads, AAA recommends drivers plan ahead. They should leave with a full tank of gas and carry an emergency kit including food, water, blankets and a fully charged cell phone.
The roads already have taken their toll.
Since snow began falling Dec. 14, the Washington State Patrol in Snohomish County has responded to about 350 collisions, trooper Keith Leary said. That averages to nearly 40 accidents a day on state roads during the harsh weather.
Statewide during the same time period, the patrol helped more than 3,100 people who crashed or were stuck.
“We would like to again remind drivers to plan extra time and pack their patience if they decide to drive during this holiday week and weekend,” Leary said.
Even county road crews struggled.
“It’s very difficult,” Scalf said. “We’re doing all we can to keep the primary routes open.” Snow depths Sunday proved too much for some plows to manage, he said.
Along U.S. 2 between Monroe and Gold Bar, gusty winds blew snow into drifts as deep as 8 feet. At one point, seven plows got stuck.
Around the county, as much as a foot of fresh snow fell Sunday. And that was on top of already deep snow.
Now, it looks like the snow could stick around through the holiday.
Experts say there’s typically a 7 percent chance of a white Christmas in the Puget Sound lowlands.
This year, the odds look good, even though a mix of snow and rain is expected Christmas Eve, said Chris Burke, a weather service forecaster.
“There might be some snow left on the ground,” he said. “Actually I think that’s pretty likely. It’s hard to see it all washing away.”
Reporter Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437 or jholtz@heraldnet.com.
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