A two-storm dose of winter weather that revved up Sunday and was expected to abate by Thursday was forecast to deliver snow accumulations of up to 20 inches in the foothills of the Olympic Mountains.
At least as much snow is expected today as fell Tuesday.
“We’re expecting a major snowstorm” beginning late Tuesday and extending throughout the day today, said Chris Burke, National Weather Service meteorologist in Seattle.
“Tuesday’s was a hit-or-miss showery event,” Burke said.
Today “will be a widespread snow event with the highest amounts in the south, tapering as you come north.”
5 to 10 inches possible
From 5 to 10 inches are possible in today’s storm throughout Western Washington, including Clallam and Jefferson counties.
Gradually less buildup of the white stuff will fall as the storms approach sea level, and accumulations could vary dramatically depending on the terrain, said Allen Kam, National Weather Service meteorologist in Seattle, on Tuesday.
In the first storm, 10 inches or more of snow were expected to fall on areas of Clallam County by late Tuesday — with Forks apparently the hardest-hit North Olympic Peninsula city.
Quillayute Valley School District Administrative Assistant Sheri Gagnon said 12 inches to 18 inches had piled up outside the school district’s administrative office — located in downtown Forks — by 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.
By noon Tuesday, the city of Port Angeles had about 4 inches downtown, where snow had stopped and billowy clouds surrounded a large patch of blue.
Fewer than 90 minutes later, snow was again swirling.
By early Tuesday afternoon, the National Weather Service had reported 2 inches of snow in Port Townsend, 1.5 inches in Port Hadlock and less than an inch in Port Ludlow, Chimacum and Brinnon in Jefferson County.
But both the Port Ludlow and Brinnon fire departments reported between 2 to 3 inches while the Quilcene department estimated 3 to 4 inches of snow by mid-afternoon.
Second blast
In the second blast, more snow was expected to arrive by this morning, with accumulation dependent on elevation and area, Kam said.
“You have a huge range of snow totals in your area,” Kam said.
Temperatures were expected to stay in the upper 20s to low 30s through today and tonight and likely uptick to the lower to mid-30s by Thursday and low to mid-40s by Friday, Kam said.
“By Thursday or Friday, it might be back to rain,” Kam said.
“It will be quite the mess.”
Cars in ditches
No injury wrecks were reported as of noon Tuesday, but numerous ditched vehicles were reported in Clallam County, Peninsula Communications Supervisor Karl Hatton said.
Law enforcement authorities said PenCom dispatchers received 77 reports of cars in ditches and other assorted wrecks between 2 p.m. Saturday to noon Tuesday, Hatton said.
The total included four vehicle mishaps between 10:45 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. on rural county roads in the Sequim and Port Angeles areas.
The total does not include all mishaps because not everyone reports them to PenCom, Hatton said.
By Tuesday morning, while there were some traffic delays, fender-benders and cars sliding off the road, no injury accidents were reported.
Jefferson County Sheriff Tony Hernandez said there were several instances of cars sliding into a ditch, but said “most people heard the weather reports and decided to stay home.”
People in cars that slid into ditches in some cases had to wait 90 minutes for a tow.
“There have been a number of minor traffic accidents, and we brought in two extra firefighters for this shift but they weren’t needed,” said East Jefferson Fire-Rescue spokesman Bill Beezley.
At about 11:14 p.m., two semi-trucks were stuck on East Sims Way on the hill between Safeway and QFC and blocked traffic but they were able to move after a short duration, the Port Townsend Police Department said.
Earlier, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reported a collision on Cape George Road and another at Discovery Road and Mill Road that were quickly cleared.
In Brinnon, multiple collisions briefly blocked both directions of U.S. Highway 101 at Milepost 307 at 9:50 a.m.
None of the wrecks were serious enough to be reportable, said Trooper Russ Winger of the State Patrol.
In Port Ludlow, a few cars skidded off the road but there were no serious wrecks, said Port Ludlow Fire Rescue spokesperson Cheryl Groves.
Adina Vierra of the Quilcene Fire Department said there were no snow-related incidents, while Brinnon Fire Chief Bob Herbst said that about three cars slid into a ditch but that the roads were “pretty clean” by the early afternoon.
Winter storm alert
With the second winter blast expected, a county winter storm alert was issued Tuesday morning by Clallam County Emergency Management Program Coordinator Jamye Wisecup.
“The roads are very icy and slick in areas including rural roads in elevations,” she said in the alert.
“It is suggested to not make any unnecessary trips and to use proper traction tires for safety.”
The Jefferson County Department of Emergency Management activated its Emergency Operations Center at 10 a.m. Tuesday morning.
Clallam County had not done the same as of 2 p.m. Tuesday, said Wisecup, who added that the department is monitoring the situation.
Check on conditions
Port Angeles Police Chief Terry Gallagher, whose department runs the PenCom dispatch center for law enforcement agencies countywide, said citizens can check on road conditions in Clallam County 24 hours a day by phoning 360-417-2459.
Bob Hamlin, emergency program manager, for Jefferson County Department of Emergency Management, said the agency will provide regular storm updates at www.jeffcoeoc.org, and on a blog, www.emergency-information.blogspot.com.
Up to date information is also available from local radio stations KPTZ 91.9 and KROH 91.1, Hamlin said.
For state highway road conditions, phone 360-452-3394 or visit www.wsdot.com.
10 inches in Forks
In Forks, where 10 inches arrived by 11 a.m. Tuesday, the city had all three snowplows on the road, said Dave Zellar, Forks city works manager.
State Department of Transportation plows also helped the city clear the U.S. Highway 101 corridor through the center of downtown Forks, he said.
But as of late Tuesday morning, city plows were dedicated to main roads, not residential streets.
A Clallam Transit bus slid into a ditch on LaPush Road, but there were otherwise no other major incidents.
“Most businesses are closed,” Zellar said.
Grocery and convenience stores were still open for supplies, he said.
Outages
The Clallam County Public Utility District reported 278 customers without power south of Forks along Highway 101.
In the Sol Duc area, 79 customers lost power, along with 56 customers in the Hoko area, near Sekiu.
Puget Sound Energy spokespeople could not be reached for comment on any electrical outages in East Jefferson County on Tuesday.
In Sequim, where 5 inches had fallen by noon Tuesday, road crews began early pretreating roads with de-icers, said Paul Haines, Sequim’s public works director.
Haines urged residents to not drive their vehicles as long as possible.
Fire District No. 2, which covers the Port Angeles area, has responded to some flue fires and some minor car collisions, but there hasn’t been anything serious, Fire Chief Sam Phillips said.
“Every one of our trucks is chained up and ready to go,” Phillips said.
Clallam County road crews were not routinely plowing and sanding roads Sunday and Monday but were out early Tuesday and will be out early today, officials said.
Jefferson County Engineer Monte Reinders said the county’s 11 snow plows (nine in East Jefferson County) are running on two shifts to prepare for the storm and that major roads would be treated with sand on Tuesday night.
“Sometimes it takes awhile to catch up but we should be able to get to all the high priority roads,” he said.
Reinders called the snow removal process “a high priority.”
Emergency preparation
“This next storm could make even short trips to the store extremely dangerous.,” Hamlin said.
“Check on your neighbors and if necessary, share any extra supplies you have with others who may not be as well-prepared.”
Hamlin also cautioned residents to be careful when using alternate sources for electricity, heating or cooking, and that carbon monoxide poisoning, electric shock and fire are primary hazards during a winter storm.
Even with predictions of heavy snow, the Port Townsend Food Bank will open as usual for its Wednesday distribution, said Shirley Moss, director.
“It will be business as usual,” she said.
“People will still need to eat.”
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-417-3536 or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
Managing Editor Leah Leach contributed to this story.
