Up to six inches of snow could hit the Kirkland area late tonight. Forecasters report increased possibility and anticipate between one and six inches in the higher hills and Eastside area.
On Wednesday, the National Weather Service in Seattle issued a winter storm watch for Western Washington from Thursday evening through Friday afternoon.
Up to two inches of snow could fall around Tacoma and two to four inches from Seattle northward. The snow is predicted to hit late Thursday night and continue late Friday morning, possibly impacting the morning commute.
Check back with the Kirkland Reporter for possible school closures and delays.
A winter storm watch means conditions are favorable for severe winter weather.
If warm south winds are more effective than expected, the snow amount will be less.
City of Kirkland prepares for storm
“Kirkland’s Police, Fire and Public Works Departments are ready to respond to the snow that is predicted in the lowlands,” said city of Kirkland spokeswoman Marie Jensen. “The National Weather Service advises that a front is expected to bring snow, beginning today, to several areas including the east Puget Sound lowlands.”
Kirkland Public Works crews are applying pre-ice brine throughout the day to arterials, roads near Evergreen Healthcare hospital and hills. Two sander trucks are ready to deploy and two plows will be mounted.
The city will initiate the following priority system for snow and ice treatment. To view and download the priority street route map.
The first priority includes roads near and accessing EvergreenHealth Medical Center and the surrounding medical facilities, including those that lead to and from Interstate 405.
The second priority includes critical east to west and north to south routes that lead to and from I-405 and State Route 520 and other communities around Kirkland. It also includes arterials that provide access for transit, commerce and government facilities, including fire stations or the largest traffic volume routes.
The third priority includes roads vital to neighborhoods and linking second-priority routes to each other.
To report emergency road hazards within Kirkland city limits, please call 425-587-3900, 24 hours a day.
For non-emergency reporting hazards, email publicworks@kirklandwa.gov during regular office hours, Monday-Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
To report power outages, contact Puget Sound Energy at 1-888-225-5773.
For garbage and recycling collection delay information, call Waste Management at 1-800-592-9995.
