Offering frequent news and analysis from the majestic Evergreen State and beyond, The Cascadia Advocate is the Northwest Progressive Institute's unconventional perspective on world, national, and local politics.

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Drivers urged to slow down on highways

The Washington State Patrol has an important message for drivers throughout the Evergreen State: Don't drive the speed limit on interstate highways or state routes. Slow down to forty miles per hour.

Hundreds of drivers have already victimized themselves by thinking they can go at regular speeds when the temperature is hovering around freezing and it's hard to tell what is water and what is ice.

The bottom line: better be safe than sorry.

Also, if you abandoned your vehicle on a state highway, WSDOT asks that you contact the Washington State Patrol at 425-649-4370.

Other winter weather updates:
  • See the latest round of school closures
  • King County reports that Metro Transit buses will be operating on snow routes again for the Thursday afternoon commute, and bus passengers should expect service delays. All travelers should expect dangerous road conditions after sunset today, as melting roads refreeze.
  • All King County District Court locations were closed today. Residents should anticipate that courts may be closed again tomorrow due to the weather.
  • WSDOT is planning to completely close I-405 northbound in Bothell for road work tonight. Drivers are advised to avoid I-405, and to stay off the roadways altogether.
Pacific NW Portal's weather partner AccuWeather reports that the low tonight will be 18°F (RealFeel®: 21°F). That's almost ten degrees colder than the low last night. It'll be partly cloudy and cold. Anything that is wet and anything that melted will be a slick sheet of ice tomorrow morning. So if you can avoid going out - staying at home is a really good option.

Pacific NW Portal's Winter Weather Preparedness section has advice on how to prepare your home and vehicles for cold, icy, snowy, and windy weather.

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