More white stuff — from a trace up to 3 inches — could appear on the North Olympic Peninsula by this morning, while the Olympic Mountains could accumulate up to 11 inches of snow.
On Saturday afternoon, the National Weather Service Seattle expanded its winter weather advisory issued for midnight Saturday to 10 a.m. today to include the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca, Admiralty Inlet area and Olympic Mountains.
The eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca and Admiralty Inlet area could see up to 3 inches, and the Olympic Mountains could see 4 to 11 inches, according to the advisory. The highest accumulations of snow are expected in areas above 500 feet.
Hurricane Ridge Road closed all day Friday and Saturday due to snow, citing 8 inches and 30 degrees Saturday, according to a message.
Clallam and Jefferson counties should see a dry period Monday to Tuesday, returning to upper 40- and lower 50-degree weather by Wednesday, said Jeff Michalski of the weather service.
Friday’s snow
Snowfall Friday morning caused some delayed school start times and power outages in Clallam County.
The Port Angeles and Sequim school districts operated on a two-hour delay Friday morning due to snow. In both school districts, buses ran on snow routes and administrators canceled preschool for the day.
The Clallam County Public Utility District reported several power outages due mostly to trees and branches “that haven’t felt the weight of snow since last winter” striking power lines, administrative assistant Nicole Clark said.
Crews worked overnight Friday to restore all but one or two isolated outages by Saturday morning, Clark said.
Power outages were reported around Deer Park and Lairds Corner, Happy Valley, Mount Pleasant, Mount Angeles, O’Brien, Black Diamond, Quail Run, John Mike, Place and Alice roads, in addition to isolated outages throughout the greater Port Angeles area.
La Niña winter
Friday’s snowfall demonstrated a “classic” situation for a La Niña winter, Washington atmospheric sciences professor Cliff Mass wrote in a blog post Friday.
A La Niña year means the Pacific Northwest could face an usually cold and wet winter.
“It means we could have more s-n-o-w this winter season,” Ted Buehner of the weather service put it.
For live weather information, the National Weather Service posts watches and warnings for Western Washington at www.wrh.noaa.gov/sew.
Buehner recommends staying abreast of winter weather preparedness resources at takewinterbystorm.org. Among them: Create an emergency preparedness kit with three days of nonperishable food and water for your home, car and office. Ensure tires have adequate tread and inflation. Check wiper blades and washer fluid. Know your bus’ snow route.
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Reporter Sarah Sharp can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or at ssharp@peninsuladailynews.com.
