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Snow turns to rain overnight

Posted by Geeky Swedes on January 4th, 2009

Update 8:35 a.m.The snow shifted to rain late last night, melting the vast majority of the 2-4 inches of snow on the ground.

Here’s a look at 15th near 80th. While the side streets still have some snow, most of the main arterial routes around Ballard are clear and wet with some slush in the median. Metro is running at full strength with a handful of limited routes, and Seattle Public Schools are open, as scheduled.

This was the scene in Ballard last night (photo courtesy of Marc). The snow began to fall and refused to let up despite a forecast of limited snow showers, forcing SDOT to quickly dispatch their plows and Metro to race to prepare for a potentially slippery morning commute.

Crown Hill, Sunset Hill and Blue Ridge saw deeper accumulations (that’s 19th Ave. and 85 St. in the photo above) in the 3+ inch range.

While traffic was moving relatively smoothly overnight on the major Ballard routes (like 15th and Market St. above), the biggest traffic struggles involved hills. “JessicaBallard” reported seeing a Metro bus stuck in the middle of Market on the hill at 11 p.m. Jennifer wrote at 8:30 p.m. that “quite a few cars are getting stuck up the hill” on 46th St., which is Market on top of the Ridge. But by morning, these problems will melt away with the snow.

Joel sent us this photo from 9th Ave. and 97th St. which illustrates the big, wet clumps of snow falling from the sky.

Andrew in Sunset Hill sent us this photo tonight of a snowman made by “2-year-old Austin and his dad.” Have a traffic/snow report? Please leave it in comments below. And send any photos to tips@myballard.com…

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  • Maggie Bluffs
    Who is Cliff Mass? He's becoming a celebrity on our blogs!
  • Nubbee
    Now, how did I know this would already be here!

    I would really like my recycling picked up! Please turn to rain!
  • mickey
    "Who is Cliff Mass?"

    He's an atmospheric scientist at UW. He's been reporting about the weather on KUOW's Weekday for many years.

    He also has a blog:

    http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/
  • Geeky Swedes
    We've been linking Cliff Mass a little more frequently because he seems to have a more honest, straightforward approach to predicting the weather than... um... the other guys.
  • b lite
    All I know is that if they cancel school tomorrow, I am dropping off my kids anyway. It's been three weeks, please please please have school tomorrow!
  • sushisistah
    it is an absolute blizzard here at the edge of the world in blue ridge...i think i'm so relaxed and relieved i'm laid off so i don't have to think about the stress of not getting to work ontime again...
    good grief.
  • HausFrau
    I hear ya, B Lite! Normally the inner child is excited by snow and snow days - but after 3 weeks of 'vacation', all I have to say is "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!"
  • Looks like you guys got way more snow then we did on Capitol Hill. We have about an inch but definitely not enough to build a snowman.
  • sushisistah
    I just went outside to take pictures...two more cars are stuck and my camera was not working properly...but hey..it is bad bad bad. All I can say is .... shit man.
  • HausFrau
    Anybody have room in their glass recycling?!?
  • Nubbee
    HausFrau - I have a tiny bit of room left. Depends, are the bottles full right now and are the good? :)
  • HausFrau
    Not if this snow keeps up, Nubbee!! :)
  • kim
    b lite--

    where are you dropping your kids? i'm bringing mine to where ever yours are at!
  • Sheila
    There's a lot of snow at 46th and Phinney. Bring on the rain!
  • Jennifer
    I drove home about an hour ago down the hill on 46th. Quite a few cars getting stuck up the hill. I'm so ready for this to stop.
  • It is definitely slippery out, even in 4 wheel drive.
    We saw several people stopped/possibly stuck and several more definitely stuck, many of the on Greenwood, even though it is a more trafficked road which is straight and not too hilly. A few more on other well traveled roads like 105th, but in those cases, people were stuck doing things like trying to make left turns through snow that is already piling up in the middle of the road. I cannot figure out why some people go out driving in cars which are so ill equipped for the conditions.
  • OwlsInsomnia
    I just took a walk through downtown Ballard and everyone was moving along fairly well. It was slushier on the way back home so I think it's warming a bit. Swedish Hospital already had the sidewalks cleared just an hour after the snow started. I am so impressed!
  • Nubbee
    Wait? Didn't our fair mayor say to use salt?

    :P
  • Luzma
    Crown Hill has about 4-6 inches and it's not letting up. Or at least doesn't appear to be.
  • phishstu
    "Didn’t our fair mayor say to use salt?"

    4 inches and/or 3 days in a row, I believe, and its salted.
  • Nickels said he would use salt for more than 4".
    Which we are fast approaching.
  • angstadt
    We're now in the same year as the mayor's planned re-election.

    You can bet that the salt will soon be flowing.
  • Sheila
    I just heard on the news that they are using sand, de-icer and salt.
  • "Wait? Didn’t our fair mayor say to use salt?"

    Wouldn't it take longer than a week to get enough to make a difference? Maybe...
  • JessicaBallard
    The main arterials seemed pretty clear on my drive from Ballard (15th to Market to Wallingford to I-5) at 10pm. But what little slush there was already seemed to be giving 2 Metro buses trouble.

    Both were the big double-length buses. One was a 44 stuck eastbound on Market, ~2 blocks before Phinney & blocking both lanes. (I had to drive in the westbound lane to get around him.) The other was driving hesitantly through Wallingford. Didn't stop or get stuck but looked like it was having trouble.
  • Chris
    HausFrau - Through January 16th, you are allowed to leave extra trash, composting and recycling without additional charges.
  • ballardgirl
    I'm at work and driving was completely fine!
  • Lexicon Girl
    Last night at about 7:30 PM, I was driving up 85th from Aurora toward Greenwood and saw a semi truck in the Eastbound lane heading down the hill. The semi was jacknifed and sliding sideways down the hill toward Aurora as we passed it (as quickly as we could). Has anyone heard if there were any incidents because of it?
  • kim
    a collective sigh of relief from mom's all over ballard!
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