by Staff Report
Snow showers dotted the region Monday, leaving behind a dusting of snow and trail of car accidents.
In Skagit County, the State Patrol responded to 16 accidents between midnight and 1:40 this afternoon. State Patrol also responded to 41 accidents in Snohomish County, 18 in Whatcom and one in Island County during the same period.
The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for the area, which is to be in effect until 6 p.m. tonight. An accumulation of one to three inches is expected through early afternoon, but some areas will likely see very little snow, according to the National Weather Service.
“There was no blanket storm,” state Department of Transportation Spokesman Dustin Terpening said. “It has been squalls all over the place.”
Near the DOT office in Burlington, Terpening said snow stuck to Interstate 5 earlier today, leaving the roadway white. But by this afternoon, he said I-5 was just wet with no snow sticking.
In the Bow Hill area north of Burlington, Terpening said several cars overturned or ended up in ditches.
The Island and Skagit County line was another trouble spot.
“Earlier today we had some problems with the Deception Pass Bridge icing over,” he said. “We had some collisions.”
Things do appear to be clearing up, he said.
However, State Patrol Trooper Keith Leary, advised drivers Monday afternoon that it is still winter, and the conditions can be unpredictable.
“Most of our collisions are due to speed too fast for the road conditions. This time of year we need to be especially careful as conditions can change from area to area, and minute by minute,” Leary wrote by e-mail.
Skagit Transit Route 410 in Anacortes was canceled due to snow Monday just before noon. The route could not reach the Anacortes Ferry Terminal due to hazardous road conditions.
The snow is expected to clear later tonight or early Tuesday morning, but cold temperatures will remain until Thursday or Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
