The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued a winter storm warning for the east Puget Sound lowlands and for Everett and vicinity for heavy snow, effective from 4 a.m. Wednesday until 10 a.m. Thursday, according to its 3:31 p.m. update Tuesday afternoon.

Snow, which began falling in Enumclaw shortly after 3 p.m. Tuesday is expected to continue into the evening but will generally produce slushy accumulations of an inch or so. Snow is expected to increase from the southwest during the morning hours and continue at times through Thursday morning.

Depending on the area, accumulations later tonight through Wednesday evening will range from two to six inches.

Temperatures are expected to fall into the 20s from the north to south later Wednesday afternoon and evening, so a flash freeze is expected to affect the afternoon/evening commute over much of western Washington. 

There is also a chance that snow over the central Puget Sound lowlands could be accompanied by a clap of thunder.

Earlier Tuesday afternoon, the NWS reported that a trained weather spotter identified a funnel cloud in Puyallup at 3:56 p.m. The funnel cloud producing cell was near Bonney Lake and moving east at 10 mph. Small hail or graupel were possible in areas including Buckley and Enumclaw.

This observation had prompted a significant weather advisory for southern King and northern Pierce counties that expired at 5 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.

Public Transportation

King County Metro expects that Wednesday's forecast will affect public transportation and urges bus riders to be ready for changing travel conditions through Thursday, according to a news release issued today.

Wednesday's snowfall may start out light in some areas, but transit users should plan ahead for bus trips that could be disrupted, delayed, and on snow routing. Even though weather in the morning may not be bad in your area, you should leave from a bus stop or park-and-ride that also has service when buses are on snow routes in case travel conditions deteriorate by the afternoon commute.

Here are some tips for bus travel this week:

  • Know the snow routing for your bus route. Check the timetables at Metro Online for snow route maps for each route. Not every bus route has snow routing, but most do;
  • When buses are on snow routing, some streets and bus stops may be missed and there are often delays due to travel conditions. There is new snow routing in many areas that is different from past years, so be sure to check the snow routes for all the routes you use most often;
  • If you haven't already, sign up for Transit Alerts to keep up with any major changes to bus service. The alerts can be received as email or text messages. Go to www.kingcounty.gov/metro/snow to subscribe;
  • Metro is using a new online color-coded map to keep riders informed of the status of its bus service, which can be found online at: www.kingcounty.gov/metro/snow. All bus routes are assigned into one or more of seven geographic areas within King County. When there is snow or ice on the roads, the service status of each area will be color coded and displayed on the online map. Green indicates buses are operating on normal routes; yellow that some – but not all – routes in the area are on snow routes (primarily in higher elevation areas); and red tells you that all bus routes in the entire geographic area are on snow routing;
  • People without online access can call the Customer Information Office at (206) 553-3000. General information about service will also be sent out via the kcmetrobus Twitter account;
  • Be patient. Buses are not always on schedule in snowy or icy conditions. And, increased ridership during bad weather can result in crowded buses and a longer-than-usual wait on the phone for the Customer Information Office;
  • Dress warmly for the walk to the bus stop, expect delays, and wear appropriate footwear for the weather;
  • Head for bus stops on main arterials or at major transfer points such as park-and-ride lots, transit centers, or shopping centers; and
  • Riders should wait at bus stops at the very top or very bottom of hills, because buses are often unable to stop for passengers on inclines.

Red Cross Safety Tips

Ahead of the winter weather, the American Red Cross chapter serving King and Kitsap counties reminds residents of the following safety tips during cold and icy weather:

  • Prepare your vehicle. Winterize your car by taking it to a trusted mechanic, who will check things like the tires for appropriate pressure and tread, the cooling system, the battery, the wiper blades and washer fluid, etc.
  • During the winter months, make sure to keep your gas tank near full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines. Keep extra blankets in the trunk in the event that you are stranded and have to wait for help.
  • Keep a winter storm survival kit in your car. This should include blankets, food, flares, chains, gloves and first aid supplies.
  • Dress appropriately before going outdoors. The air temperature does not have to be below freezing for someone to experience cold emergencies such as hypothermia and frostbite. Wind speed can create dangerously cold conditions even when the temperature is not that low.
  • If possible, avoid being outside in the coldest part of the day, or for extended periods of time in extreme cold weather.
  • Dress in layers so you can adjust to changing conditions. Avoid overdressing or overexertion that can lead to illness.
  • Most of your body heat is lost through your head so wear a hat, preferably one that covers your ears.
  • Mittens provide more warmth to your hands than gloves.
  • Wear waterproof, insulated boots to help avoid hypothermia or frostbite by keeping your feet warm and dry and to maintain your footing in ice and snow.
  • Take frequent breaks and stay hydrated.
  • Get out of wet clothes immediately and warm the core body temperature with a blanket or warm fluids like hot cider or soup. Avoid drinking caffeine or alcohol if you expect you or someone you are trying to help has hypothermia or frostbite.

For more safety tips or to purchase a disaster kit for your home or vehicle, please visit www.seattleredcross.org or www.redcrosswashington.org.

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