Another runway opens at SEA, roads still icy

Temperatures around the Puget Sound region are beginning to warm up.

Sea-Tac Airport has been able to open a second runway Friday afternoon, but hundreds of flights have been delayed or canceled

UPDATE: Another runway (16R) is now open… that makes 2 (of 3)! Airlines are working hard to get their aircrafts out safely. We appreciate all the teams assisting in these difficult conditions. As always, check with your airline before heading to the airport. pic.twitter.com/VijDS8kyQe

— Seattle-Tacoma Intl. Airport (@flySEA) December 23, 2022

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Icy roads are creating problems for drivers across the area.

Yup. Still icy. 🥶
Driver uninjured. Single vehicle incident near 211th & 82nd.
Please avoid driving! 🚫🚗 pic.twitter.com/HMiHhXr4Xz

— Edmonds Police Department (@EdmondsPolice) December 23, 2022

The National Weather Service in Seattle expects winds to become a problem on Saturday.

SATURDAY WINDS
Southerly winds will increase Saturday with gusty winds developing along the coast and the northern Puget Sound up towards the Canadian border. Wind gusts between 40-50 MPH are likely in these areas, particularly near and over the water. #wawx pic.twitter.com/pgwfmR47Fz

— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) December 23, 2022

King County Metro Transit tweets buses are still grounded for a while.

🚨❄️🚨Transit Alert 10 am update: Due to ongoing icy conditions, all Metro service remains suspended this morning, including buses, water taxis, on-demand & Seattle Streetcar.
Next update 2 p.m.@KingCountyWA @SoundTransit @seattledot @wsdot_traffic #WaWxhttps://t.co/VPCSN9SORS

— King County Metro ❄️☃️🚏 🚌🚎⛴🚐 (@KingCountyMetro) December 23, 2022

Pierce County reports buses are on snow routes.

#Rider Alert: All Pierce Transit routes are on a 2 hour delay this morning, December 23. Once service starts, they will be on a snow detour. Click here for your route’s snow schedule: https://t.co/PKN48qf5wK pic.twitter.com/9hGPL5Pt8l

— Pierce Transit (@PierceTransit) December 23, 2022

Seattle Police and the Washington State Department of Transportation report many accidents across the region due to the ice and snow. They say many drivers are not using sufficient caution.

Sigh, we can and must do better. Help us help you. https://t.co/3OtjNjUquw

— Washington State DOT (@wsdot) December 23, 2022

Meteorologist Nick Allard writes in the KIRO 7 weatherblog:

This afternoon temps will warm into the upper-30s with spotty areas of just rain showers, however, like I said there could still be some pockets of light freezing rain mixed in. The Cascades will be a mess with freezing rain possible all day and possibly early tomorrow.

Bottom line, from now through about mid-day, any rain could fall as freezing rain.

Snow and freezing rain will increase through the passes Friday afternoon and last into Friday night with the potential for significant impact there. More than a half inch of ice is possible at Snoqualmie Pass by Saturday morning, causing major travel disruption. East of the Cascades, some light icing is likely late Friday and Friday night, but then increasing snow and freezing rain Saturday into Christmas Day.

Over the weekend, while some freezing rain and snow are likely from the passes east Saturday and into Christmas Day, west of the Cascades, we’ll have heavy rain at times. This rain could cause urban flooding from blocked storm drains and, eventually, river flooding. This threat of flooding from a suddenly warmer and very wet weather pattern (with several atmospheric rivers possible) will continue through next week.