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Snow blankets Poulsbo, severe weather shelters open

POULSBO, Wash. — Kids across Kitsap County took advantage of the snow day by getting outside and having fun.

"When I get home I might have a snowball fight with my sister,” said Levi.

The 8-year-old told KIRO 7 he loves the winter weather.

“We haven’t had snow in a long time and now we get to play in it and sled,” he said.

"We went sledding for probably about an hour then ventured over here to make some snowmen and they love the snow, so it's been a good day,” said Chelsie Henries, Levi’s mother.

However, the winter weather wasn't all fun and games.

Along Highway 305, there were stranded cars covered in snow, families out clearing fallen tree limbs and people digging out parking lots.

"We're here shoveling the snow. How fun is that?" said Alex Velaon.

It was also a demanding day for firefighters. The storm brought down a power line that ignited nearby brush near the intersection of Lincoln and Noll roads in Poulsbo.

Agate Asphalt owner Clayton Hallum and his crew were up before the sun to plow parking lots and scatter salt.

"I only expected to wake up to an inch or two and we woke up to 8 to 10 inches, so the roads were pretty bad and there weren't very many people out,” he said.

But Hallum said he doesn't mind working in the snow.

Thanks to this storm, downtown Poulsbo turned into a winter wonderland.

"I wish every winter we could get a winter like this,” said Hallum.

"It's gorgeous. I love it. I love it up here. It's absolutely beautiful,” said Tricia Hodges.

Due to expected freezing weather conditions, four severe weather shelters will be open in the area Monday through Thursday from 6 p.m. until 7 a.m. (unless otherwise noted).

The locations are:

Port Orchard United Methodist Church

725 Kitsap St.

Port Orchard, WA

Silverdale United Methodist Church

9982 Silverdale Way

Silverdale, WA

Village Green Community Center

26159 Dulay Road NE

Kingston, WA

(Open from 6:30 p.m. until 6:30 a.m.)

Gateway Fellowship, West Wing Building

18901 8th Ave. NE

Poulsbo, WA

The Salvation Army operates as an independent winter shelter and will be open every night through March 31 at 832 6th St., Bremerton. The Bainbridge Island Emergency Management Program will activate its Severe Weather Shelter as well Jan. 13 – 16 at 370 Brien Ave. SE.