SEATTLE — The Seattle Department of Transportation is warning drivers to prepare themselves for a potentially tough commute Monday morning, with possibly icy roads, bus reroutes, and the first morning commute for the new 99 tunnel.
DOT trucks were busy earlier on Sunday as the first round of snow hit Seattle.
“We are prioritizing major roads used by the most people which are essential for transit and essential for emergency vehicles,” SDOT spokesperson Ethan Bergerson said.
Drivers know more snow overnight could make the roads difficult.
“I don't have a vehicle that can do more than about 3 inches of snow,” Kiki Trollen said, “so that kind of worries me, traveling tonight.”
SDOT doesn't want drivers to relax—they want them to drive with extra caution.
“Plan ahead for delays, give yourself that extra time, [and] keep in mind it might take longer to stop, so give yourself extra room,” Bergerson said.
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He said 30 Seattle DOT crews were working Sunday night.
“We're using granular salt in order to make sure that the ice doesn't start to form,” Bergeson said.
“Because once the ice builds and bonds with the roads-- then that's when you're in trouble.”
SDOT will plow if needed and is urging people to drive with caution as the temperatures drop.
Snow fell for hours around King County.
In North Seattle, KIRO 7 spotted 8-year-old Ainslie Coombs and her 11-year-old brother Wyatt in a snowball fight after they built a snowman.
“It took a while because everything was falling apart,” Wyatt said. “It was kind of annoying.”
“The snow wasn’t sticky enough?” KIRO 7 reporter Linzi Sheldon asked.
“No, not really,” Ainslie said.
Ainslie and Wyatt's dad, Matt, knows it could be a tough commute on Monday, depending on Mother Nature.
“I’ve been checking the weather reports and it looks like it might freeze overnight,” Matt Coombs said. “I don't know, if it does, then we'll all just have to make do.”
King County Metro will be monitoring the weather and announcing snow reroutes on Twitter and on its website.
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