posted 12/21/08 08:48 AM | updated 12/21/08 02:22 PM
Featured Post! | Views: 853 | Comments : 8 | Weather

Lotta Snow

By scott
Share Recommend (+10 votes) ( report abuse ) ( add your comment )
(view larger map)

As I approach my 12 year anniversary of living in Seattle, I think this snow is a record for me (I arrived right after the huge snow in '96 so I can't claim that on my list). I don't ever remember having this much snow on the ground before. And thankfully we never got the expected wind, so everyone still has power.

I'll be heading out in a few minutes for pictures an updates.  Got some snow pics?  Upload them here.  Seen a sledding party or other snow-related fun?  Leave a comment below to let us all know where it's happening. 

It looks gorgeous out there.  Get out and have some fun, shovel some snow to help pedestrians, and enjoy the day.

9:12AM - That's 9" on to of the table in the CDNews Executive Courtyard And Outdoor Retreat (tm).
9:26AM - 23rd is packed snow. Cars are making it up the hill by Garfield
9:35AM - Looking down Yesler from 23rd. There's a lot of people walking in the street since there's less snow there than on the sidewalks. The snow has a crunchy layer of ice on top that takes more energy to walk on.
9:38AM - Looking south on 23rd towards Jackson. You can tell the plows have been out overnight, but we haven't seen one yet. No buses either.
9:48AM - MLK: less plowed
9:53AM - No sledding yet on the slopes of Barnett park. Bring it on!
10:01AM - Rear-wheel drive cars: FAIL
10:05AM - Cherry from 29th. Headed to the Breakfast District in Madrona? Better hike.
10:08AM - MLK looking north from Cherry
10:18AM - Short on discount supplies? Grocery Outlet is open. Christmas ree sales stand is not
10:22AM - For the dog, every step in the snow is like the best day of his life. And he's remarkably good at landing his back feet right in the holes created by his front ones.
10:24AM - Well-equipped vehicles are making it up the hill on Union towards 23rd without problem.
10:28AM - Was there a winter storm panic at the liquor store? Or just an everyday burglary?
10:31AM - 23rd and Union is all quiet
10:35AM - Need a nice hot latte? Katy's is open at 20th & Union
10:48AM - Cars are ignoring the closure signs on the Black Diamond route on Union between 18th and 19th, so no sledding parties there today :(
10:51AM - Here's a family of sledders headed up Spring St
10:53AM - Snowmacculate Conception
10:58AM - Hill on Cherry appears passable for 4WD
11:03AM - Brave, but probably no the easiest way to get around today
1:13PM - It's snowing pretty heavy again. Of course it started just as I was finishing up shoveling the 15 acres of sidewalk around the estate.
1:44PM - still snowing hard - I'm seeing front-wheel drive vehicles having trouble once they get off the main streets. The #48 is running occasionally, so that might be your best north/south option if you have to go somewhere.
2:19PM - the #48 bus will not be stopped!
2:22PM - Have you worked up an appetite shoveling snow? Ezell's is open and there's no line.
Share this post:
Permalink
Tags: Snow + add tags
savecancel
Powered by
The history of snow in Seattle
I was here for the unexpected storm in December 1990, where we got 17 inches in a day, and it hung around for nearly two weeks due to sub-freezing temps. However, that was just one day of snow. I cannot recall a circumstance when we've gotten repeated snowstorms with significant accumulation like this.

I'm amused that most of the people I know can't go any further back than the '96 storm (which was worse for the collapsing roofs and flooding than for the snow itself), and many weren't even here for that one.
Comment by Ice Princess
December 21, 2008
RE: The history of snow in Seattle
Memories of the pre-Christmas surprise snow in 1990: neighbors working together to help stranded school-kids.

http://millerparkseattle.blogspot.com/2008/12/remember-1990-
Comment by Andrew Taylor
December 21, 2008
Skiing, snowborading, and sledding
We're watching a group of people ski, snowboard, and sled west down Pike in Madrona. They're doing really well!
Comment by Sarah
December 21, 2008
Its coming down again
Rats, and I was just getting ready to venture out to see the sledders :-\
Comment by hendrixfan
December 21, 2008
Christmas 1996
I remember. I was on a nice two week break from working out of town. It snowed. The streets turned into rutted ice tracks. Then it snowed again. Like over a foot. Restaurants were open and walking was in order. No buses ran to where I was for many days.

It was not the 'surprise' of 1990, it was more like this is.
Comment by kt
December 21, 2008
If you haven't been outside recently
You should poke at the snow. It's really, um, interesting. There's about 4" of snow on the ground, with a sheet of solid ice on top of that, and then a little snow on that. It's like a giant Cadbury Christmas egg.
Comment by WontYouBeMyNeighbor
December 21, 2008
Snow memories
One time in the late 80's I measured 13" of snow in my back yard. That is still the record for me. Around that time of my life after a nice snowfall I skied up to Capitol Hill to meet a friend. North Capitol Hill had lots of fluffy snow. We wanted to ski around the Lakeview Cemetery but it was closed and the gate locked. We knocked on the door of the office and a man answered who did not look at all like what I was expecting, namely Lurch. This guy was young, tan and stylish. He told us they close the cemetery during big snows because there are trees in there whose branches break under heavy snow accumulation and so it's dangerous. But, he said, kids climb over the fence all the time, and he just can't see them do that from where he is - no, not at all. I wasn't a kid but I thanked him and left. We climbed in and the snow was glorious.
Comment by Snowfan
December 21, 2008
snow
1952. That was the real snow! 1985 brought a little, too. Come to think of it, 1974 & 75 brought a few flakes....
Comment by Long time
December 23, 2008
Add Your Comment
Name:
Email:
(will not be displayed)
Subject:
Comment: