![](https://westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/thiscali.jpg)
(yes, that’s the official WSB HQ arterial-meets-arterial intersection, this time Thistle to California looking west)
Finally starting a new post. First, Friday’s KNOWN area school closures (pretty much everyone):
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
HIGHLINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL
HOLY ROSARY SCHOOL
HOPE LUTHERAN SCHOOL
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE SCHOOL
SEATTLE LUTHERAN HS
SOUTH SEATTLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
VASHON SCHOOL DISTRICT
WEST SEATTLE MONTESSORI
Looking for another school/district? Try SchoolReport.org
Now, the latest county transit/road alert:
King County Metro Transit continues to operate with severely reduced service this evening, while Road Services Division crews concentrate their efforts on plowing and sanding major arterials.
While the snow that fell over the county for much of the day has now moved out of the area, road and transit workers have a monumental task ahead – keeping as many roads open and people moving as possible ahead of the next storm. By Saturday afternoon, high winds, and more snow or freezing rain could present yet another major weather-related headache for residents.
On Thursday afternoon, approximately half of Metro’s and Sound Transit’s bus service in King County was temporarily suspended due to weather and road conditions. Bus passengers should assume that will be the situation for Friday morning as well. Please check the Metro Online website before you leave home to see if your bus route is operating and if it is on snow routing.
In preparation for the morning commute, King County road crews will focus on plowing and sanding major arterials and other priority snow routes such as bridges, overpasses and steep hills overnight. But motorists are being warned that these targeted response efforts do not mean that arterials will not be icy in the morning given the hard freeze that’s expected during the night. So motorists should monitor weather forecasts and traffic reports before heading out. And if you must travel, you are reminded to be prepared to drive in bad weather. That includes having good all-season tires or chains and a full tank of gas in the car.
The Department of Transportation also has a reminder for parents tonight. When the area gets significant snowfall, steep neighborhood roadways become popular sledding spots for kids. But sledding on roads is an extremely dangerous way for kids to enjoy the snow. So residents are being asked to help avoid tragic accidents by suggesting an alternative safe location for winter fun.
Motorists are advised to check out King County Road Alerts for the latest information on road closures in unincorporated King County. Residents are also encouraged to report problems on county maintained roads by calling (206) 296-8100, or 1-800-KC ROADS if they live outside the greater Seattle calling area.
9:07 PM AND SLIGHTLY BEYOND: We’re taking some time to catch up on interesting info and pix we might have missed during the fast-and-furious pace of the morning/afternoon updates, now that (we hope) everyone is safe and warm at home. We’ll share what else we come up with, such as: KOMO’s weather blog explains the “thunder snow” that started all this, so many hours ago. Also: Thanks to the people who sent sunset shots; somehow we missed that peek of sun, but Maria captured it in a Christmas-card-perfect shot:
![](https://westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/sunsetmaria.jpg)
10:36 PM: Before a few more catchup photos from this momentous day, the latest “forecast discussion” is in. By most accounts, it’ll be very cold but dry tomorrow, and that next everything-but-the-kitchen-sink storm is still skulking out there somewhere for a Saturday night-ish arrival.
CLICK AHEAD TO SEE THE REST OF OUR “AS IT HAPPENED” FRIDAY NIGHT COVERAGE (INCLUDING PHOTOS):
From earlier, the fun side of the snow: Rosina says her kids Liam and Ava built the snowguy (48th and Hudson):
![](https://westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/builtsnowman.jpg)
Sally M & Michael C caught a shot at Lincoln Park that seems to epitomize “ice fishing”:
![](https://westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/icefishing.jpg)
They also sent other views of the LP waterfront, like these:
![](https://westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/lincparkbeach.jpg)
![](https://westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/lincparksunse.jpg)
Over near Alki, Emily‘s dog Fiona was one of many pooches enjoying the snow:
![](https://westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/fiona.jpg)
Emily reported a multitude of spinouts at Admiral/63rd and implores people to drive slowly on icy roads, even when they’re flat. Of course, many people used alternative transportation:
![](https://westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/snocat.jpg)
Bill Corrigan got that photo at 41st/Graham. And outside West Seattle, Eddie spotted an even more alternative form of transportation on the move:
![](https://westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/lightrail.jpg)
Imagine if we’d had the monorail by now, he said wistfully, angrily. To another photo now:
Wouldn’t it just have been easier to have wings? Babs photographed this guy:
![](https://westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/pigeon.jpg)
Meantime, lots of snow-total reports – most around half a foot, like Rachel near Highland Park Elementary, where she’s estimating almost 7″ fell. One last reminder that the city’s going to try Thursday trash pickup TODAY, and Friday trash pickup Saturday – if yours doesn’t make it, bring it in and set out double next week (which is what Monday customers from earlier this week are supposed to do when Monday rolls around again).
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