SEATTLE — A winter storm pushed through the Puget Sound region overnight Sunday into Monday and caused major road closures, and even brought down trees and power lines in some areas.
The storm came as heavy precipitation rolled through the area, including heavy rain in the lowlands and up to 8 inches of snow in the Cascades foothills by sunrise Monday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
Both directions of I-90 across Snoqualmie Pass closed early Monday morning due to hazardous driving conditions. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) said the pass received at least 19 inches of snow overnight.
I-90 reopened around 8 p.m. after a lengthy closure.
White Pass is will remain closed overnight due to "extreme weather conditions" and snow slides, according to WSDOT. Crews will reevaluate its opening at 8 a.m. Tuesday.
Stevens Pass temporarily closed Monday morning so crews could complete avalanche control work. The pass reopened with chains required on all vehicles except all-wheel drive.
As of 11:35 a.m., US 101 was closed between State Route 104 and Hoodsport due to downed trees and power lines. The Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) first tweeted about the closure at around 6:30 a.m.
Crews worked to remove trees while Mason County PUD continued to clear the power lines. The WSDOT advised there could be an extended closure and urged travelers to use alternate routes.
Additionally, State Route 112 was closed near Clallam Bay West around 11:45 a.m. after the road was fully blocked by debris.
Those traveling through the Kitsap or Olympic peninsulas should be cautious of winter driving conditions.
At one point Monday morning, more than 2,000 customers in the Hoodsport area south of Lake Cushman were affected by outages. As of 11:40 a.m., the outage map shows roughly 70 customers still affected.
Describing the work crews were having to do on US 101, the agency wrote, “They have to cut their way up and down the highway to get anywhere. It’s all going to take a long time. They’re working as fast and safely as they can.”
Despite the difficult conditions, crews were making progress cutting their way along the highway and restoring power.
Residents whose power is restored are urged to keep power usage to a minimum for the first 30 minutes after restoration due to cold loading. With temperatures so low, the lines need time to fully reenergize.
In King County, multiple roads were closed Monday for either ice hazards or water over the roadway.
The City of Sammamish issued a warning to drivers to stay off the roads Monday night due to widespread black ice. A Winter Weather Advisory is in place for Sammamish until 10 a.m. on Tuesday.
The NWS warned that temperatures were near freezing in many areas by 9 p.m. and side roads were already getting slick.
Sound trains between Seattle, Everett canceled through Jan. 5
Sound Transit canceled Sounder North Line service between Seattle and Everett Monday afternoon through Wednesday because of a landslide covering the tracks about 3 miles north of Edmonds.
Buses will provide service for North Line passengers to Edmonds, Mukilteo and Everett through Wednesday night. Buses will depart Seattle at 5th Avenue and Weller Street at 4:33 p.m. and 5:35 p.m.
Morning North Line commuters can catch a bus at the Everett station at 6:15 a.m. and 7:15 a.m., in Mukilteo at 6:26 a.m. and 7:26 a.m. and Edmonds at 6:41 a.m. and 7:41 a.m.
Passengers may also take regular Sound Transit Express and Community Transit bus service.
