Seattle weather updates: Cooler temps, more snow showers on the way

We recently asked Seattle Times readers if they embrace or curse the winter season and its darkness. Over 300 readers responded, providing their advice and anecdotes of wintering in the Pacific Northwest.

Read the full story here.

The Washington State Department of Transportation urges drivers to learn how to install tire chains before hitting the road. Tire chains may be required on passes when ice, slush or compacted snow impacts road conditions.

Read the full story here.

The Issaquah Police Department shared some winter driving tips on X, including reminders to slow down and increase following distance.

Cold weather shelters are open throughout King County due to ongoing cold temperatures and snow showers.

For a full list of shelters in your area, visit: kcrha.org/resources/severe-weather-shelter/.

All King County Library System libraries are free and open to the public during their open hours and can be used as day shelter. Detailed information about each library location can be found on the KCLS website.  

People can also call the Severe Weather Shelter Navigation Hotline at (206) 245-1026 — daily from 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. — for information on shelters and navigating to shelter sites.

Slippery roads while driving or walking? You can report it.

Snohomish County is asking the public to help report where streets are particularly slick for crews to address.

In Seattle, residents are responsible for keeping sidewalks passable, and should consider salting or shoveling for elderly or less-mobile neighbors. To report urgent de-icing needs, call 206-684-7623. SDOT generally avoids sending trucks into the tight, residential side streets.

Residents can also see the “Emerald” and “Gold” circuits that are salted or plowed, along with real-time truck locations by clicking through seattle.gov/winterweather.

Read here for more information on how the city treats roads during winter weather.

A “hit or miss” snow pattern will stick around for much of the week in Western Washington, even if the flakes themselves might be fleeting.

Unofficially, close to an inch of snow was recorded at Sea-Tac International Airport by Monday morning, said Harrison Rademacher, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

That’s on top of less than an inch from Saturday into Sunday, he said.

The snow was more likely to stick north and south of the city, Rademacher said.

Read here for more information about the forecast.

East Pierce Fire is using this cold snap to remind the public to do routine maintenance on HVAC systems and to replace filters regularly.

Crews responded to an early morning fire Monday in Bonney Lake, with the furnace as the source for smoke reported by the homeowner. No injuries were reported.

City services in Bellingham will operate as usual, despite winter weather conditions. The city says crews worked overnight to clear snow and said it will provide updates Monday if changes to services occur.

WSDOT and the National Weather Services is warning drivers to prepare for challenging travel conditions with snow, icy roads and cold winds.

People should take extra caution on bridges, ramps and overpasses, WSDOT says, and leave more space to stop.

At Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, 57 flights were canceled as of 8 a.m. Monday, according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware. An additional 72 flights were delayed.

Snow showers continue to spread throughout Western Washington. Temperatures are expected to peak at Sea-Tac Airport at 37 degrees Monday before they dip to the upper 20s in the evening with more snow showers.

A small craft advisory is in effect until 4 p.m. from Cape Flattery to James Island and in northern inland waters including the San Juan Islands.

As Monday morning dawns, numerous schools across the Puget Sound region will start late.

Public schools are closed in Bellingham, Lynden and around Whatcom County, where chilly air from Canada dipped temperatures to the teens early Monday.

Whatcom Community College closed its campus, but online classes are still happening. Western Washington University’s campus was closed until 10 a.m.

Read here for more information on school closures and delays.

It’s a classic Northwest nightmare: cars sliding backward downhill, mountain passes and normally busy highways choked with a ghostly parade of chaotically abandoned vehicles, and other transportation hiccups that unfold predictably whenever it snows here.

Don’t get caught stuck and read here for what you need to know before driving in snow, ice and other slick conditions. Plus, how to recover from a skid and what to pack in your vehicle.

Traffic is at a standstill from Ellensburg to Seattle shortly before 7 a.m. Monday due to a jackknifed semi, according to WSDOT.