Drivers on state Highway 112 on the West End bore the brunt of snow that fell on the North Olympic Peninsula on Thursday.
The highway to Neah Bay was closed in its entirety during the afternoon when about 30 vehicles, including three log trucks, became stuck, Washington State Patrol reported.
In all, there were 14 collisions in Clallam County on Highway 112 and U.S. 101, said Trooper Brian George, spokesman for the Washington State Patrol.
“I think it’s the weather up there,” he said from his Bremerton office.
“I don’t know if drivers weren’t prepared or what the issue was.”
The snowy weather that fell across the Peninsula and Western Washington most of Thursday, then turned to ice this morning, was expected by forecasters to dissipate with warmer temperatures and rain by the weekend — although flakes might be seen in some lowland locales today.
On Thursday, there were more collisions reported in Clallam County than anywhere else in the State Patrol’s District 8, which covers Clallam, Jefferson, Mason, Kitsap and Grays Harbor counties.
On Highway 112, cars went off the highway into ditches and spun out, unable to regain traction on the slick roadway.
Some collisions were reported, George said.
Highway 112 — the State of Juan de Fuca National Scenic Byway — was closed at about 3:30 p.m., but after plowing and sanding by state Department of Transportation crews, it was reopened before 5 p.m., George said.
Trucks kept busy
Transportation Department trucks were kept busy across the North Olympic Peninsula most of Thursday.
“We did what we can with slush,” said Department of Transportation Olympic Region Maintenance Manager Don Clotfelter.
Clotfelter said eight trucks were plowing from Sappho to Quilcene during the day.
“The roads were passable,” Clotfelter said.
“It was a minor event, but we were ready for major.”
With wet snowfall creating road slush and threatening to turn to ice overnight, the Jefferson County public works snow crew was ready to work around the clock to keep roads clear.
That was especially true Thursday in Brinnon and southeast Jefferson County, where the largest amounts of snow from the easterly moving storm fell, said Frank Gifford, county public works director.
“We’re plowing down in Brinnon, and down toward the south end of the county they’ve been working all day long,” Gifford said late Thursday afternoon.
“And they’ll be working all night long.”
Jefferson County snowplows were also spot plowing where needed in areas that received more snow Thursday, including east Discovery Bay and Eaglemount.
“There will be sanding on the roads as soon as the temperature drops and we find evidence of ice,” Gifford said.
Foothills blanketed
The snow falling in the higher elevations surrounding Port Angeles — mostly above 500 feet and south of Eighth Street — blanketed the foothills and started tapering off Thursday evening.
Port Angeles had its share of collisions, none serious, but incidents began decreasing in number in the evening hours, said city police Sgt. Tyler Peninger.
The Morse Creek area and the west side of the city had the most treacherous conditions, he said.
“If people don’t need to go out, they should put off the shopping until the weather clears up,” Peninger said.
During the evening rush hour between Sequim and Port Angeles, traffic on Highway 101 was single-file heading westbound, and there were backups reported between Deer Park Road and the Wal-Mart store east of Port Angeles.
Numerous reports of one-car crashes were called into the Pencom 9-1-1 dispatch center.
Sequim delaying school
In Sequim, Superintendent Garn Christensen decided to delay the start of school today by two hours with no morning kindergarten or pre-school.
Sequim school buses had to chain up in some areas — on Blue Mountain and Lost Mountain roads — on Thursday afternoon.
“We’d rather be safe than sorry,” said Sequim School District transportation manager Jeff Gossage.
“It is easier to call the two-hour late start now than start a phone tree early in the morning.”
