Community Corner

Enumclaw, White River Schools Closed as Winter Storm Warning in Effect Through Today

Here are some service notices for Wednesday in light of the winter storm warning.

The National Weather Service has a winter storm warning in effect through midnight Wednesday.

Four to eight inches are expected in the Seattle area including Hood Canal
and the east Puget Sound lowlands.

Freezing rain is possible midday today with ice accumulations up to one-tenth of an inch possible in the area stretching from Hoquiam to Olympia to Tacoma.

Find out what's happening in Enumclawwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Washington State Department of Transportation said Tuesday that drivers should prepare for hazardous conditions on interstates and secondary roads, with impassible conditions on the more outlying roadways. For some, being prepared may mean staying off the roads.

“I can’t emphasize enough to people the importance of gathering information available on weather forecasts and road conditions to make the best decision before venturing out,” said Washington Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond. “Our crews will be out there plowing and treating the roads, but we need drivers to do their part and prepare for really challenging travel conditions.”

Find out what's happening in Enumclawwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

When snow and cold temperatures mix with heavy commutes, drivers should expect significant backups and potential lengthy delays. 

WSDOT’s 1,250 maintenance personnel are using nearly 500 pieces of equipment statewide, working shifts 24/7 to treat and plow roadways. Roads are cleared on a priority basis, with interstate highways and major arterials first in line, followed by more rural roadways. 

Schools:

Enumclaw and White River schools are closed today.

Classes start at 10 a.m. at Green River Community College Wednesday. Employees report at 9 a.m. Check www.SchoolReport.org for updates.

King County Metro on Snow Routes:

King County Metro Transit is keeping its buses on snow routing until future notice. It is also planning on canceling up to 30 individual bus routes Wednesday morning due to the predicted severity of the coming storm.

Bus riders should sign up for Transit Alerts to receive notification of route cancellations, but also check the service status before traveling on Wednesday. If there is major snowfall, bus service will be significantly disrupted and delayed. People should avoid traveling if at all possible in those conditions.

Due to the weather forecast for treacherous and impassable roadways, Metro is scaling back some service Wednesday to be able to operate the rest of its system safely and as reliably as possible. The routes scheduled to be canceled for Wednesday are: 2EX, 38, 42, 45, 46, 51, 53, 79, 114, 161, 162, 175, 192, 193, 197, 205, 210, 215, 216, 219, 224, 237, 251, 268, 277, 316, 355, and the Center Park Shuttle.

Information about these Wednesday route cancellations will be added to Metro’s snow page after midnight tonight. But, service on those routes could be restored depending on overnight weather forecasts and actual travel conditions tomorrow. So before traveling, riders should check either online or by phone (206-553-3000) for the most current status of Metro service.

For travel on Wednesday, check Metro’s snow web page before leaving. Updates to the online information begin as early as 4 a.m. and continue as needed until travel conditions improve. Also, it is important to sign up for Transit Alerts so you can be alerted when bus service status changes.

Even though weather and road conditions in the morning may not be bad in your area, delays and service disruptions can occur in other parts of the county that affect bus service in your area. Buses will also be chained, which means they have to travel at slower speeds.

Alternate Schedules for King County Operations: Updated closures are posted online in real time at www.kingcounty.gov. These agencies include:

  • Garbage collection service disruptions: Disruptions in garbage collection are being reported in several areas of King County. Customers who are missed on their regular collection day this week are asked to secure their garbage and put it out for collection on their regular day next week. There are several companies providing garbage-collection services throughout King County, and residents are urged to contact their individual hauler for information: http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/garbage-recycling/garbage.asp
  • Public Health Centers: Public Health Centers may have limited services.  If you plan to get services at a Public Health Center or other Public Health location, please call before you leave home to find out if the service is available. Contact information is available on the Public Health website at www.kingcounty.gov/health.  
  • Online Services Available: King County residents may be able to obtain some services online, such as pet licensingcar tabsmarriage licenses by mailproperty tax paymentsbusiness licensing and more.

 


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