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Thursday, January 19, 2012

City City Says to Get Home Before Dark Because of Ice

Posted by Eli Sanders on Thu, Jan 19, 2012 at 3:14 PM

The latest from the Emergency Operations Center:

With ice and snow continuing to cause challenging travel conditions, the City of Seattle is encouraging people to get home before dark if possible. After dark, icy conditions may worsen and ice will become more difficult to see.

Sunset today comes at 4:50 p.m., so plan accordingly. The rest of the release is in the jump:

Pedestrians should exercise caution—many sidewalks are icy, and there is danger of falling ice from trees, buildings and power lines.

Residents are discouraged from all but essential travel to help keep roads open and safe for emergency vehicles, transit and snow removal. Streets may appear bare and wet but may be covered with ice, which will be difficult to see after dark. Ice accumulation could lead to snapped power lines and falling tree branches, a danger for both drivers and pedestrians.

If residents experience a power outage, they should stay warm in their homes by blocking drafts around doors and windows and dressing in layers. Be sure to check on vulnerable neighbors, particularly the elderly and disabled, to make sure they have adequate food, water and blankets to keep warm. Never bring barbecue grills, generators, or any charcoal or gasoline powered appliances inside, as they can lead to deadly carbon monoxide poisoning.

For more information about weather safety tips, and to find out about city facility closures, please go to www.seattle.gov. To report a power outage call (206) 684-7400.

Comments (20) RSS

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okay sloggers, how do you think my bus home from UW to Northgate via 15th AVE NE will be? (bus number 73)

Posted by internet_jen on January 19, 2012 at 3:28 PM

@1, you should be OK, though it will be slow and grisly. Those buses have chains. They'll need them.

Posted by Fnarf

on January 19, 2012 at 3:34 PM

@2, Jack Jones????

Posted by gloomy gus on January 19, 2012 at 3:36 PM

Report from 98030

Power out since 10 am.

PSE repairs by Zipcode
http://sam.pse.com/TextView.aspx

Working off battery on laptop @50%, got some left on netbook, phone is off, saving full charge. Luckily I have Clear mobile and that's working.

Got the crank charged radio on 950 (no snarks, please).

Made coffee with butane stove, later making Atlantic salmon with propane bbq (got the big white tank...heh). It's good to be a camper.

Going to CO tomorrow anyway...where it's 50F and SUNNY!!

Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe

on January 19, 2012 at 3:44 PM

What @2 said.

I'm taking the 44 and then walking

Posted by Will in Seattle

on January 19, 2012 at 3:46 PM

██ ████████ ██████ ██████████ ██ ████ ██ ████ ██████████ ██. ███ ███ This comment has been found in violation of H.R. 3261, S.O.P.A and has been removed

Posted by whatsbeckgottadowithit on January 19, 2012 at 3:49 PM

Also: vampires.

Posted by Banna

on January 19, 2012 at 3:55 PM

"Never bring barbecue grills, generators, or any charcoal or gasoline powered appliances inside, as they can lead to deadly carbon monoxide poisoning." Dear City of Seattle, the slow witted folks this press release is aimed at don't have email.

Posted by Max Solomon on January 19, 2012 at 4:11 PM

Auburn SD closed again tomorrow. I worked one day this week. Crazy.

Posted by Nic in Greenlake on January 19, 2012 at 4:20 PM

Ah, but Max dear, if they didn't put that in every form of communication, and someone did manage to bring their BBQ into the house and kill themself, someone would be sure to cry "BUT YOU DIDN'T PUT THAT IN THE PRESS RELEASE!!!!"

Posted by Catalina Vel-DuRay

on January 19, 2012 at 4:27 PM

#7: Goes without saying.

Posted by MLM on January 19, 2012 at 4:42 PM

@1,

I was able to drive back up the hill on 15th just fine - though it is definitely already more slippery than it was this morning, and if someone stops halfway up a couple of the steeper sections it could definitely create a problem. That said, FNARF is correct - the buses and plows are out, and Metro will probably still be running later tonight.

(And on behalf of other drivers I have a request for pedestrians out in the snow tonight - please stay out of the road! It might seem like cars have enough room to get by, but with all of the piled up snow on the sides of the road they can easily catch a tire and get sent spinning your way. It also makes us - or at least me - more nervous. Thanks!)

Posted by Mr. X on January 19, 2012 at 4:59 PM

Several 73' s and 77's have gotten stuck on the bridge over 104th. You might have better luck with the 66 or 67. The 66 isn't articulated (bendy). Use one bus away. Track the 73 just north of your destination. If it is late, snowballing tardiness. They are probably getting stuck. Of course, each trip is it's own hell on wheels.
AND PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF THE FLYING SPAGHETTI MONSTER HANG ONTO THE HANDRAILS WHEN BOARDING AND DEBOARDING! After getting off hours late tonight I don't want fill out an accident report.

Posted by pussnboots on January 19, 2012 at 5:12 PM

@13,

That's interesting - I live at the top of the hill and don't usually go that far north (or come up the north side of that hill), but had made a soft offer of a ride home to my co-worker who lives in Shoreline and had bused in and declined. Looks like I dodged a bullet!

Posted by Mr. X on January 19, 2012 at 5:15 PM

PSE!

PSE!

PSE!

Somerset Apts, 98030, back on the griiiiid.

Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe

on January 19, 2012 at 5:26 PM

@3, flight cancelled, rescheduled, cancelled again. No more flights today or tomorrow. We are fucked. His set just started. We rebooked the whole shebang -- flights, hotel, tickets -- for Saturday night. Fortunately these are all snow days at work so my 3 days in SF is still only going to cost me one vacation day (and a bunch of grief and extra dough).

Posted by Fnarf

on January 19, 2012 at 8:16 PM

Couldn't they also advise pedestrians to use caution in the form of FUCKING LOOKING AT THE ONCOMING CARS WHEN CROSSING THE STREET!? Driving home last night, came to a red on Denny at Queen Anne or 1st, where it's gently downhill. It wasn't really slippery, at least with real snow tires, but I was appalled at peds walking across the street with the usual fixed stare at the little white man light. It's always a good idea to look to see if the cars are actually going to stop before walking out in front of them, but with snowy streets, it's particularly wise to see if they CAN stop, or if they're skidding, before you stride in front of them. You're more likely to be able to avoid that screw-up than to dodge ice falling from a tree.

Posted by ScrawnyKayaker on January 19, 2012 at 10:46 PM

Is everyone in Seattle really this new to Seattle as to think this is bad snow here?

Posted by KittenKoder

on January 20, 2012 at 5:52 AM

@18,

Piss off - I've lived here a long time and while this may not be the absolute worst snow we've had, it's plenty bad (though I will grant that at least it didn't hit right during rush hour as it often does).

Posted by Mr. X on January 20, 2012 at 7:50 AM

@19, I think this one and the one last winter, in November 2010, are the two worst I've ever seen here. There was another back a few years ago that was heavy, but didn't have the sheet of ice that made this year and last so terrible. And I was born here.

Thursday's 6.8" was a record at Seatac.

Posted by Fnarf

on January 20, 2012 at 1:25 PM