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Another very difficult morning commute

Posted by Geeky Swedes on December 22nd, 2008

Update 9:05 a.m. We’ve measured 8.5 inches of total snow this morning, and some areas in Ballard have as much as 9 or 10 inches. With that much accumulation, even getting out of the driveway will be a real challenge.

“This morning we woke up to the familiar sound of someone spinning their tires in the snow,” wrote EP in comments about an RV driving down the street. Turns out, it got stuck on northbound 8th Ave. at 67th. Cars that were blocked by the RV starting getting stuck, and an officer helped push them back on their way.

Once you’re off the side streets, the conditions still require 4WD or chains to be safe (and experience driving in them). This is 65th heading west from 8th Ave., which has not been plowed recently.

Here, a driver pulls over on 15th Ave. to install chains before continuing on.

Big crowds again at the bus stops. This is 15th and 65th. Metro has posted its updated list of route limitations, and there are a ton of them. DOT cameras show light traffic is running smoothly on I-5 and 520, but transportation officials are urging people to stay home if they can.

Looking up 15th from Market. Plowed snow is forming ridges in the middle of the roads, preventing left turns outside major intersections.

Remember, no waste pickup today — they’ll come around tomorrow. UW has closed today. Alaska Airlines and Horizon have resumed very limited service.

As far as the forecast, the snow has stopped, but meteorologists say there could be a few snow showers today. And Wednesday: another round of snow.

A look down Market St. toward Phinney Ridge. Post your road and snow reports from this morning in comments below…

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  • Nidwaldner
    Husband went into work this morning. He reports that you DEFINITELY need AWD with good tires or at least chains to get around today. From Olympic Manor out to 15th on 85th was the worst stretch. NB Holman was fine but down to one lane and NB I-5 to Mukilteo was fine, as long as you have the equipment, averaging 40 MPH.
  • Ep
    This morning we woke up to the familiar sound of someone spinning their tires in the snow. We look out the window and this jackass is trying to drive a FULL SIZE RV around in this. Hilarious!
  • Ep
    Oh, and it's completely stuck sitting in half of the northbound lane of 8th Ave NW.
  • Anna
    We were slow but fine driving to work (Greenwood to Phinney) with chains this morning. We did avoid major hills, obviously.
  • gooner
    didn't check out the interweb on the bus closures this morning. sat waiting for the 17 for 45 minutes. nice.
  • Roy Hobbs
    Drove from 58th and 8th to Fremont, got coffee, then headed across the Fremont Bridge. Took a right on Nickerson and followed it to the office, which is near Nickerson Street Storage.

    If you can get off of the side streets, and you are careful (slow, with plenty of separation between other cars), the flat areas are driveable.

    If you can get away with not going out, so much the better, but if you have to go, it can be done.
  • kim
    doesn't sound like the 18 is running. loads of people and no bus. those there have been waiting an hour. but the metro website says it running......the tracker isn't tho. wow!
  • My parents came to rescue me from cabin fever yesterday. You need really good tires, chains and/or AWD. I would love to drive to work right now but its just not a good idea.
  • ding
    so what the are the odds of me finding chains?

    lol

    this sucks.
  • steve
    Driving my AWD vehicle, did a loop at 8am from Phinney at 65th, south to 46th/Market St, then down the hill on Market into Ballard, then north on 15th to 85th, east to Greenwood, and back north to 65th. No problems anywhere along the way. Just go 20-30mph and start slow after stopping. (We did get nearly run down by some jerk in a pickup truck going at least 50mph on 15th Ave , heading north)
  • Duncan
    I caught an "18" (it was labeled as a shuttle) after waiting about 10 minutes on 24th. This was around 7. No problem getting downtown.
  • Sheila
    I drove to work from the top of Fremont (46th/Fremont) to 99 S and exited at Western. I was able to do this in a VW Rabbit without chains. The hardest part was going from Western to Elliott. Not sure how I'm going to get home.
  • Evan
    We went to the Seahawks game yesterday and I'm in at work downtown today. Lots of parking available - and I hear there is good shopping to be had. We have a 4WD pickup.

    I drove around the RV - now that is STUPID! Don't go out without chains or AWD.
  • 50intheclip
    rv+snow=smart.
  • RebA
    3 #44 busses just got stuck on the NW Market Street hill heading towards fremont(around 10:45 this morning). No idea if they have been cleared yet. I just finally got home after a chilly walk back.
  • nicole
    Has anyone had any luck on #17 bus today? My hubby just took the 18 into town but it got stuck on 1st ave and is now walking the rest of the way to work. He's considering trying the 17 on his way back home if it's running OK....
  • Cosmo
    from metro's site,
    18 is not running north of 85th
    15 is not running north of 90th.

    I figured bus route 15 would be a better bet for me, so I xc skiid from my place at 23rd & 75th to 15th to catch the bus.

    15 came right on time, and while slow, got me to work in belltown just fine.

    Hopefully getting home will be just as easy though I'm tempted to try skiing the Myrtle Edwards trail back to Ballard.
  • kim
    nicole,

    the 17 isn't running today. metro's website has it listed at suspended. i heard too that the 18 got stuck at 1st and virginia....
  • Swishy Ballard Boy
    Bus? It took 30 minutes to drive downtown on 15th in the Touareg this morning for some shopping. Lots of easy parking downtown too. I waved to all the people waiting at the bus stop, though, then did my shopping, had a fab coffee and blew a wad at Neiman Marcus. Only wish I had time for lunch at Matts. I love the holidays, it's all about giving!
  • tony
    I already took off thurs + friday and was really feeling guilty about taking today off until i read these comments! Unfortunately i really have to go in to work tomorrow (everett). Any body now of the safest way to get to I-5? i normally take 15th north then holman and then take the northgate entrance. -Thanks!
  • Meetio
    The speeding jerks in the pick up trucks ( we had one on 15th yesterday) are definitely Old Ballard! They seem to have issues with people in nice cars who drive carefully.
  • Nordic Woman
    Why would you think that they would be "Old Ballard"? People who have lived in Seattle their entire lives know how to drive in the snow! We routinely had snow here- in 1968 I think we got 67 inches total that winter. (Check out Cliff Mass's new book on PNW Weather.) What makes you think that Ballardites only drive pickups? Very stereotypical.
  • lauren
    I have to get to work tomorrow too! Has anyone been down 85th to Aurora?

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