The City of Seattle has begun its preparations for winter weather. The National Weather Service has issued a Special Weather Statement which states:

Today: A 30 percent chance of showers before 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42. Southwest wind between 13 and 15 mph.

Tonight: Cloudy, with a low around 36. Southwest wind between 13 and 17 mph.

Sunday: A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 40. South wind between 6 and 14 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Sunday Night: A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a low around 33. Light and variable wind. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

M.L.King Day: A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 40. South wind around 11 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Monday Night: A chance of snow showers. Snow level 400 feet. Cloudy, with a low around 35. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Tuesday: A chance of rain and snow showers. Snow level 300 feet. Cloudy, with a high near 40. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

“With forecasts predicting a chance of snow, it is important for the public to prepare for winter weather,” said Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn.

Some good steps to take to prepare your home for winter weather include:

Gather any supplies (from around the house or at the store) before the cold and snow arrives.
Prevent frozen pipes – when the weather is very cold outside, open the cabinet doors to let warm air circulate around water pipes. Let cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes.
Avoid using a stove or oven to heat your home. This reduces the risk of fire.
Be sure to have a radio to hear the latest weather information.
Keep sidewalks clear of snow and ice to protect pedestrian safety.
Visit www.takewinterbystorm.org to see a complete list of steps to get ready for winter weather.

The City of Seattle has been working with Cliff Mass and the University of Washington on SnowWatch, a new weather tool that tracks and forecasts snowfall at the neighborhood level. SnowWatch can help the public track storms, learn where snow is falling, and make informed choices. SnowWatch is available at: http://www.atmos.washington.edu/SNOWWATCH/.

In the event of snow it is best to avoid driving if possible. If you must drive, have a full tank of gas and basic supplies like water, blanket and light source. It’s also a good idea to check road conditions before you go. The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) winter weather page at http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/winterweather.htm will have updates on road conditions and snow plows’ work as well as photos from traffic cameras.

Plan ahead if you are taking transit. Sign up for transit alerts by visiting http://metro.kingcounty.gov/signup/, and check to see if your bus is using a snow route by visiting http://www.kingcounty.gov/metro/snow/. Monday is Martin Luther King Day, a federal holiday, which means King County Metro buses will be running on a holiday schedule. Whether you’re driving or riding transit, you should expect some delays and give yourself more time to get to your destination.

SDOT has been preparing for winter weather, with 26 plows and four anti-icing/de-icing trucks ready to respond. SDOT will have Street Maintenance crews on standby for snow response this weekend and early next week.

Throughout this week Street Maintenance crews have been treating areas prone to roadway frost and ice to improve conditions for drivers, and will continue this operation while nighttime temperatures remain low. SDOT will also continue to carefully monitor weather forecasts.

The department has on hand 2,200 tons of salt and 46,500 gallons of salt brine and has already conducted a full exercise with its plow fleet. Other storm preparations include converting to a more effective salt brine solution (magnesium chloride) for anti-icing and de-icing work, and completing internal agreements to provide SDOT's snow fleet with additional drivers from other departments if needed.

With an emphasis on emergency response during winter storms, the Seattle Police Department and the Seattle Fire Department have snow chains ready and alternate response routes planned so personnel can effectively respond to emergency and general calls during adverse weather.

The City of Seattle Human Services Department is working to protect vulnerable residents from winter weather. The Rainier Room at the Seattle Center will be open to serve adult men and women and will open from 9 pm to 6:30 am Saturday night 1/14 through Monday night 1/16.

Resources:
www.takewinterbystorm.org
www.seattle.gov/emergency
National Weather Service - www.wrh.noaa.gov
www.seattle.gov/transportation/winterweather.htm