Unusual Snowstorm Brings Seattle to Standstill

A freak snowstorm Friday paralyzed Seattle with eight inches of snow, closing schools and businesses and sending cars sliding into ditches.

In the northern Plains, bitter cold shattered record lows in six cities.

Near record-low temperatures in the low 20s prevented the snow from melting in Seattle. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport was closed overnight because of snow on the runways.

“It’s unusual for Seattle to get snow anytime of the year, (and) it’s not even winter yet,” said Pete Reynolds, National Weather Service forecaster in Kansas City.

Empty Streets

Streets were deserted except for a few pedestrians and an occasional cross-country skier. Drivers who braved the weather inched to work through the six- to 10-inch snowpack.

The snow made driving almost impossible on the steep hills surrounding Seattle. Scores of vehicles lined shoulders and ditches, and the snow was blamed for three traffic deaths.

“Since I got here about two hours ago, I’ve seen at least eight wrecks,” said Charlie Wetzel, a resident of the Capitol Hill area.

Streets were clogged with traffic Thursday evening as workers sent home early negotiated the unfamiliar terrain of icy roadways. Hundreds of people huddled at bus stops for buses that never came and downtown hotels were packed.

Storm Warnings

The winter storm that brought the snow was centered over Oregon. Winter storm warnings were posted across the Northwest, where an additional four or more inches of snow were likely.

Snow accompanied by bitter cold fell from the northern Plains to the Great Lakes. Strong winds and blowing snow cut visibility to near zero in some areas of northwest Nebraska.

The mercury dropped to 24 below in Havre, Mont., setting a new record for the date. Records also toppled in five other cities.

South Dakota Gov. William J. Janklow closed a 92-mile stretch of Interstate 90 between Rapid City and Kadoka overnight because of zero visibility and wind chills of 47 below.