Snow, freezing rain expected to hit Thurston County this evening, forecasters say
A winter weather advisory has been issued for Thurston County this evening because of a high chance of freezing rain and snow, the National Weather Service announced.
The advisory takes effect at 4 p.m. today and runs through 1 a.m. Wednesday.
“Areas of freezing rain will begin across Lewis County later this afternoon, and continue northward into Puget Sound this evening,” NWS officials said in the advisory.
Forecasters expect around a half-inch of snow with a thin crust of freezing rain, according to the NWS information.
Residents should prepare for slippery road conditions.
By Wednesday morning, though, the weather will shift to rain as temperatures warm up to the low 40s that afternoon. Overnight temperatures are not forecast to drop below freezing the rest of the week.
The forecast shows rain through Saturday with daytime highs in the mid-40s and overnight temperatures in the mid-30s.
The extended freezing temperatures were already taking a toll on the area.
Tumwater and Griffin school district buses are on snow routes today. And there was no school at Littlerock and Michael T. Simmons elementary schools due to utility issues.
Rainier School District delayed school for two hours, canceled morning preschool, and put morning buses on snow routes.
The Yelm School District closed Tuesday because side roads in south county were too icy for buses to navigate safely. Many school districts in Lewis County also were closed.
