Round 1: Let it snow!

By Scott Sistek Published: Nov 30, 2007 at 8:48 AM PST Last Updated: Dec 2, 2007 at 3:00 PM PST
Round 1: Let it snow!
Snow in North Bend, submitted by Ernie Hayden.
SEATTLE - Most of the region was blanketed with its first coat of snow this fall and winter season as the first of three storms rolled through the area Saturday.

Snow totals varied widely across the region, with the Cascade Foothills the big winner. Generally, snow totals ranged from a dusting to 4", but Snohomish County had around 4-5", and some spots like North Bend and Fall City had over a foot of snow.

Here are some snow totals we've seen so far (unofficial viewer reports)

  • North Bend: 15"
  • Snoqualmie: 14"
  • Lake Cushman: 11"
  • Fall City: 11"
  • Snoqualmie Ridge: 10"
  • Seabeck: 9"
  • Pouslbo: 8"
  • Brinnon: 7"
  • Concrete: 7"
  • Issaquah: 6"
  • Woodinville: 6"
  • Maple Valley: 5.5"
  • Potlach: 5"
  • Kirkland: 5"
  • Everett: 5"
  • Redmond: 4"
  • Bellingham: 4"
  • Mountlake Terrace: 4"
  • Lake Stevens: 4"
  • Mukilteo: 4"
  • Birdsview: 4"
  • Monroe: 3"
  • Seattle (Capitol Hill): 3"
  • Belfair: 3"
  • Mill Creek: 3"
  • Bellevue: 2.5"
  • West Seattle (hill): 2"

We didn't hear of too many problems in the main metro lowlands -- we were lucky this hit on a weekend. A few spinouts were reported around the region, and the Cascade foothill areas were dealing with typical problems of getting a foot of snow, but generally speaking, there were far more snowmen and snowball fights.

There were, however, some problems in the mountains and Hood Canal areas. Traffic was stopped on occasion along I-90 near Snoqualmie Pass Sunday for avalanche control.

Over in Mason County, officials there urged drivers to stay off Highway 101 due to hazardous driving conditions related to snow.

And Highway 20 was closed between the Diablo Dam and Mazama due to expected high winds approaching 80 mph.

The storm was due to some arctic air seeping in from British Columbia during the day Friday and early Saturday. An area of low pressure then developed off Vancouver Island and pushed ashore during the early afternoon Saturday.

Snow continued at times through the night before ending for most people in the late evening. However, a band of snow held up in the foothills and brought a steady snow through the night and into Sunday morning, allowing snow totals there to climb over one foot.

The snow changed to rain for everyone Sunday morning as temperatures zoomed into the 40s, with the exception of the Hood Canal area and Whatcom County, which waited to change over until Sunday afternoon.

This was the first of three storms to hit Western Washington on successive days. Heavy rain and strong wind was expected to hit the region late Sunday and Monday, along with river flooding.