(Thanks to Eileen for the photo – milk section got a little bare in Jefferson Square Safeway!)
Both late-night forecast updates are in, and here’s the summary:

*NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE – Potentially 4 to 8 inches in Seattle.
*CLIFF MASS – More like 2 to 4 inches in Seattle.

Many schools already have announced closures for tomorrow (here’s the updated list). Metro buses remain on snow routes, with some cancellations. More to come.

(Photo added 3:10 am, looking north on California SW from SW Thistle)
2:50 AM UPDATE: It’s been snowing steadily since 2 or so, according to our weather spotter here at HQ – very fine, though, right now, not those big fluffy flakes. It’s sticking, too. And SDOT has just sent its first advisory of the morning:

A light snow is beginning to fall in south and West Seattle. As the much anticipated winter storm makes its arrival, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is out in full force ensuring the roadways are safe for travel, especially bus and emergency vehicle routes. Ready for whatever comes, the department has deployed 30 plow trucks for clearing major arterials and four tanker trucks are applying anti-icer to elevated roadways and known trouble spots along the snow route network. Motorists are urged to help out by making way for the snow response trucks.

Drivers area also advised to use added caution on Seattle’s many hills and bridges. For up-to-date information on SDOT’s response activities and roadway conditions, please visit: seattle.gov/transportation/winterweather.htm . Motorists can also check on current traffic conditions and roadway images on SDOT’s Traveler’s Map at web5.seattle.gov/travelers .

SDOT reminds property owners that they are responsible for clearing snow and ice off sidewalks adjacent to their properties.

(9:45 PM TOPLINES: More school cancellations for Wednesday (here’s the list) … Late-night forecast updates now coming in)

While some other parts of the city have snow, as of right now, we still don’t. But the snow elsewhere – and anticipation here – has still led to some changes, so here’s where we are publishing updates:

(Lincoln Park this afternoon, courtesy David Walega)
(updated 10:02 pm) LATEST FORECAST: Cliff Mass‘s late-night update suggests 2-4 inches most likely here. Still awaiting Nat’l Weather Service’s late-night take … (added) Here it is: They see maybe 4-8 inches over the city and are keeping warnings in place.

(updated 9:43 pm) CHANGES/CLOSURES FOR TONIGHT/TOMORROW: Seattle Public Schools will be CLOSED WEDNESDAY … Explorer West Middle School will be CLOSED WED. … Westside School will be CLOSED WED. … Holy Family School will be CLOSED WED. … Hope Lutheran School will be CLOSED WED. … South Seattle Community College closed at 4:30 pm today, evening events canceled … The city meeting at the ex-SW Community Center re: emergency preparedness is canceled … Sustainable West Seattle has postponed its forum/volunteer fair … Southwest Pool lessons canceled, according to a call received by a WSB’er … “Finding Kind” screening at Explorer West rescheduled for March 14th, 7 pm … PCC Cooks classes are canceled tonight and tomorrow … Seattle Municipal Court will be closed tomorrow … West Seattle Community Orchestras have canceled their rehearsals for tonight … Relay for Life-West Seattle has postponed its scheduled Wednesday night kickoff party … ArtsWest is canceling its WEDNESDAY night performance of “All Through the Night” (but TONIGHT is still on) … Anything else to add? Let us know!

(updated 8:32 pm) TRANSIT: Metro is staying on snow routing TFN. Its latest update includes this:

Due to the weather forecast for treacherous and impassable roadways, Metro is scaling back some service Wednesday to be able to operate the rest of its system safely and as reliably as possible. The routes scheduled to be canceled for Wednesday are: 2EX, 38, 42, 45, 46, 51, 53, 79, 114, 161, 162, 175, 192, 193, 197, 205, 210, 215, 216, 219, 224, 237, 251, 268, 277, 316, 355, and the Center Park Shuttle. Information about these Wednesday route cancellations will be added to Metro’s snow page after midnight tonight.

Metro also made a special point of saying it does not serve the 2nd/Columbia bus stop downtown while on snow routing. Use 3rd/Spring instead.

WEDNESDAY TRASH SERVICE? So far, Seattle Public Utilities says, they’re planning on it. They were planning on a normal pickup day today, and had also advised everyone who was missed yesterday to leave theirs out till end of day today.

More to come (till we launch a new late-night roundup).

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Seattle Public Schools is DISMISSING 2 HOURS EARLY, just announced, see separate story.)

(Latest bridge and Viaduct views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
No snow on the ground – at least where we are – but some is falling, off and on. Closures, changes, forecast updates:

(updated 10:42 am) FORECAST CHANGING? : Though a winter storm warning takes effect tonight, famous forecaster Cliff Mass has JUST updated his website, saying it’s scaling back, though still tough to tell. He was on KPLU Radio, saying basically the same thing. … Meantime, the National Weather Service’s midmorning “forecast discussion” is not quite so scaled-back, saying that they’re still expecting serious snow after midnight and that “5-10 inches” still looks plausible for Seattle.

(updated 12:46 pm) SCHOOL CHANGES/CLOSURES: Two new announcements: Seattle Public Schools is DISMISSING two hours early; Explorer West Middle School too.

(earlier) Seattle, Highline, Vashon districts are all opening two hours late. Explorer West Middle School and Our Lady of Guadalupe School open at 10 am. Westside School opens at 9:30 am … Community School of West Seattle, 1 hour late … Burien’s Kennedy HS is closed. More details in our ongoing list.

(updated 7:46 am) TRANSIT: Metro remains on snow routes. Route-by-route info here. Note: There are scattered reports of buses NOT taking snow routes, but they’re all SUPPOSED TO …

(updated 6:38 am) OTHER CHANGES/CANCELLATIONS: Downtown (etc.), King County Superior and District Courts are opening at 9:30 am. (King County updates are all here.) … As announced Monday, tonight’s West Seattle meeting to talk about the city emergency plan is canceled …

(updated 7:06 am) TRASH (ETC.) PICKUP: Just in from Seattle Public Utilities:

While some roads in Seattle may still be icy, Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is advising customers to treat Tuesday as a normal day for garbage, recycling, and food/yard waste collection. But customers should note that collections may be restricted in hilly locations.

Please put your garbage, recycling, and food/yard waste out by 7 a.m. to ensure pickup. If your collection is missed, please leave your materials out for one more day. If your materials still have not been collected by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, please put them out on your next regularly scheduled pickup day.

For Customers Who Were Missed Yesterday: Customers, who were missed yesterday, January 16, should set out their materials today for pickup. If your material is not picked up today, set it out on your next regularly scheduled pickup day.

Missed customers will be allowed to set out double their normal amount of garbage, recycling and yard waste at no additional charge.

(added 7:49 am) COMCAST OUTAGE: We’ve had three reports via Twitter of trouble in Gatewood. One says they called it in and were told it’s a priority, they’re “working on it.”