Several inches of snow fell on Port Angeles and areas to the west Sunday, sending cars into curbs and each other, and keeping tow trucks, police and fire crews busy all day.
And it’s not over, according to forecasters.
More snow is expected through Wednesday, said Mike McFarland, a forecaster with the National Weather Service.
Daily snowfall with 1 to 3 inches of accumulation is expected for the next few days, and a storm is being tracked that could bring a heavier snowfall.
“There is real snow possible Wednesday,” McFarland said.
A system is setting up that could drop 6 inches or more of snow on Port Angeles and other lower-elevation Peninsula locations, he said.
Snow began to fall early Saturday, melted and froze as the sun set and temperatures dropped to 28 degrees overnight.
Sunday morning, residents in most areas of Port Angeles and west woke up to an inch or two of powdery snow on top of a layer of ice, creating slippery conditions on city and county roads.
Minor accidents
Port Angeles police and Clallam County sheriff’s deputies spent much of the day responding to minor accidents.
“There have been lots of minor accidents, said police Cpl. David Dombrowski.“Cars are slipping and sliding. It’s not good times. There is a very high number of cars getting stuck.”
Roads south of Eighth Street in Port Angeles were problematic, with the most severe conditions south of Lauridsen Boulevard, he said.
The worst single location was the intersection of Race Street and Lauridsen.
“We could have stationed an officer there,” Dombrowski said.
Most of the accidents to which police responded to involved cars sliding into ditches or curbs; some were stranded, unable to climb out of the icy traps.
With more snow in the forecast, Dombrowski offered simple advice to avoid accidents.
“Give more distance and slow down,” he said.
Many people stranded Sunday were not prepared to spend time outside of their vehicles in wintery conditions.
“Even if you’re just traveling in town, people should have walking shoes and warm clothes,” Dombrowski said.
The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office issued an alert early Sunday.
“Motorists are advised to use caution when traveling on county roads within Clallam County,” said sheriff’s Sgt. Randy Pieper. “The roads are very icy and slick in areas including rural roads in elevations.”
Schools and many businesses in Clallam and Jefferson counties are closed today for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Residents were urged to avoid making any unnecessary trips and to use proper traction tires if they must leave their homes.
Snowfall varies
The amount of snow that fell varied from neighborhood to neighborhood.
“It’s spotty, hit or miss,” McFarland said.
Forks residents reported 5 inches of powdery snow, though the official National Weather Service Quillayute Airport weather station, 10 miles west of Forks, measured only a trace.
Jefferson County received only a light dusting.
“The roads are getting slick,” said State Patrol Trooper Russ Winger said at mid-morning Sunday.
He reported no major accidents in Clallam or Jefferson counties at that time.
In Sequim, roads only got a dusting of snow, said Mike Brandt, streets manager for the city of Sequim.
“We’re doing good. It’s all bare and wet now,” Brandt said.
The city has been laying down magnesium chloride on roads since Friday to prepare for the snow.
However, they also are preparing for the more challenging snow event.
“Wednesday is not looking good,” Brandt said.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
