SDOT, King County release winter service maps

As excitement over lowland snow in the Puget Sound region grows, Seattle has planned how it will tackle such treacherous winter weather.

Is snow in Seattle’s forecast?

The Seattle Department of Transportation released its 2016-17 snow/ice service map. The map shows what roads will get attention in the event of snow accumulation and/or ice.

Seattle Winter Weather Map

The question on everyone’s mind is: when will we see significant snow in the lowlands?

More snow expected after scattered showers during morning commute

A snowy winter has been in the forecast for some time now. Meteorologists have been calling for an increased chance of a colder, wetter winter due to La Nina. The weather we experienced last month — including the unseasonably warm temperatures — is similar to that of weather that preceded other historic snow storms, including that of the 2008 storm that put Seattle into weeks of freezing temperatures over the holidays.

It was during that storm that Mayor Greg Nickels received criticism for the lack of preparedness.

Since then, the city has increased its snow plows and switched from using sand to salt on roadways.

King County cuts snow routes ahead of winter weather

Meanwhile, King County reports it now has fewer snow routes due to “decades of annexations, declines in gas tax revenues, and the effects of voter initiatives.”

Those factors have “led to the chronic underfunding of the local bridge and road system,” according to information from the county.

Key routes will be plowed this season, but fewer secondary routes will get attention. The county used to plow about 30 percent of its managed roads. That will be down to 15 percent this year.

A map of the the county’s priority snow routes can be found here.

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