Update: 1 p.m.

King Country Metro Tranist will be focusing on core service on major routes for the afternoon commute and the rest of Thursday. and cancel or severly reduce many of its bus routes due to deteriorating travel conditions, according to the city.

The developing plan is to provide bus service on cleared highways and arterial roads, and to major transit centers and park-and-ride lots. This transit plan will continue until weather and road conditions improve, which means almost all bus service will be significantly limited.

Ballard lines are currently operating adverse weather routing. More information on route cancellations and reductions will be provided by mid afternoon on Metro Online, http://transit.metrokc.gov/.

Snow continues to fall in many areas of the county, and road conditions are not improving. Metro?s ability to deliver service is closely linked to overall driving conditions.

Update: 11:39 a.m. Metro warns afternoon bus service will be limited

King County Metro Transit will be focusing on core service until weather and road conditions improve, which means almost all bus service will be significantly limited as the city heads into the afternoon commute.

Snow continues to fall in many areas of the county, and road conditions are not improving. Metro?s ability to deliver service is closely linked to overall driving conditions. If passenger vehicles are having problems on the routes you normally travel, expect the buses to also have difficulty.

Currently, Metro is unable to operate on many hilly and slick roads, and service to West Seattle and Redmond has been a problem all day due to closed roads.

Information about bus status is available on Metro?s Ice & Snow page, but conditions are changing rapidly. You can also call the Metro Customer Information Office at (206) 553-3000, but call volumes are high and there may be a wait to talk to a CIO representative. People should closely monitor latest weather and traffic reports for information about travel conditions.

Metro will issue additional service updates this afternoon.

Update: 11:15 a.m. City has full crew and more responding to snow

Seattle Department of Transportation crews continue plowing, de-icing and sanding the city's major arterial streets around the city as snowfall continues.

Major arterial streets in general remain passable. Side streets may be difficult for drivers, and many side streets on steep hills are closed. People who are not required to drive today are advised to stay at home.

The West Seattle bridges remain open, but the on-ramp at Chelan Street to eastbound West Seattle bridges is closed at this time due to an accident. Earlier today, accidents at two locations-- the Delridge on-ramp to eastbound West Seattle Bridge, and the off-ramp to Columbia Street and northbound I-5, closed those ramps and backed up traffic.

Response today includes the following:

22 snow response vehicles servicing the primary routes, bridge structures, school zones and specified Metro Transit trouble locations.

2 response vehicles dedicated to patrolling/servicing West Seattle Bridge and Alaskan Way Viaduct.

6 hand crews sanding hospital landings.

The transportation department will keep full staff servicing our primary routes, bridge structures, school zones and Metro Transit routes as temperatures expected to fall to low 20's.

Crews will continue on 12-hour shifts until weather forecast changes to a more positive direction.

10 a.m. The Washington State Department of Transportation is asking drivers to check out their entire commute before heading out in the snow.

Widespread snowfall today has created tricky conditions for drivers. Stay off the roads if you can. But if you must venture out please check your entire commute.

If it's nice in your neighborhood, it may not be as nice at your destination. Check the roads you will travel for collisions, delays, abandoned vehicles. We are shifting trucks and crews to the areas where conditions are worst. If you are on the road, please make room for our trucks.

If you find yourself on the road and you do not want to travel any farther, consider getting off the freeway entirely or move to the right side.

Please do not stop in the travel lanes or on the left shoulder. It prevents our road crews from getting through and it prevents emergency vehicles from accessing true emergencies. They need that left lane.

Thank you for your continued help. We are working as quickly as we can to get our goods in good condition. You can help by driving for conditions and remaining prepared for all types of winter weather.

Updates can be found on the WSDOT Web site http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ and the city of Seattle winter storm website, http://www.govlink.org/storm/.