Forecasters expect North Olympic Peninsula residents to have a chance to dig themselves out of this week’s snowstorm today after the lowlands were blanketed with between 4 to 14 inches of the white stuff.
Snowplows will again hit the roads of Clallam and Jefferson counties this morning, clearing what they weren’t able to get to Thursday and applying sand for better traction.
Today will be mostly sunny for the Peninsula, said the National Weather Service, giving a break from the snow that fell on Wednesday and Thursday.
Subfreezing temperatures will remain.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Carl Cerniglia in Seattle said that light snowfall will return to some areas late Saturday and early Sunday before turning to rain.
While snowfall continued Thursday, authorities in both counties said it was much quieter than the day before when a slew of wrecks blocked roads and left vehicles disabled — the worst crash killing an 83-year-old Port Angeles man, Hugh McLennan.
“It was insane, probably,” said Port Townsend Police Chief Connor Daily, referring to Wednesday.
Daily said he knew of no more snow-related traffic problems Thursday afternoon.
Port Angeles Deputy Police Chief Brian Smith said he knew of five wrecks Wednesday but also knew of no more Thursday afternoon.
“Today was a good day,” he said.
The Sequim Police Department reported seven wrecks Wednesday and two wrecks Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, Forks was quiet overall, with maybe one wreck, said Police Chief Doug Price.
How much snow?
The Weather Service provided a list of snow totals at 11:30 a.m. Thursday compiled by official spotters, reporting stations and some public reports.
The Olympic National Park’s Hoh Ranger Station received the most lowland snow during the two-day storm, with 14 inches reported when the Weather Service issued the statement.
Port Angeles received the most out of the cities and towns, with 9.5 inches.
Snowfall during the storm amounted to 4 inches in Forks, 4.5 inches in Sequim, and 3.6 inches in Port Hadlock.
Port Townsend received 5 inches on Wednesday, according to the weather service, but no data was available for Thursday.
As of 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Port Townsend School District was planning to have a one-hour late start for its schools today. All schools in Port Townsend were closed Thursday.
No other school district on the Peninsula planned a late start or closure for today.
Sequim School District joined Port Townsend in closing its schools Thursday. Crescent, Quillayute Valley, Chimacum, Brinnon and Port Angeles school districts all had a two-hour late start Thursday.
William R. Fairchild International Airport in Port Angeles was closed from 11 a.m. Wednesday to about 2:45 p.m. Thursday because of ice and snow on the runway, said Doug Sandau, Port of Port Angeles airport and marinas manager. That caused eight Kenmore Air flights to be cancelled, he said.
Warming station
The frigid temperatures triggered the opening of a warming station at 516 E. First St., in Port Angeles on Thursday afternoon.
The relief station for people who have no shelter during the day will remain open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. through the weekend, said Martha Ireland, executive coordinator for Serenity House.
The station is located in Serenity House’s hygiene center next door to the outreach shelter, which is open every night from 9 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., at 520 E. First St.
In Port Townsend, a winter shelter provides meals and beds from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily in the American Legion Hall at 209 Monroe St.
For more information, or to volunteer or donate to the warming station in Port Angeles, phone 360-452-7224 or see www.serenity@olypen.com.
For more information about the Port Townsend shelter, phone Olympic Community Action Programs at 360-385-2571.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
