WSDOT: People abandoning cars due to heavy snow
Jan 11, 2017, 9:41 AM | Updated: 11:15 am
While Seattle remains relatively dry, southwest Washington and northern Oregon have been hit with snow all morning. (NWS)
(NWS)
Cities south of Seattle are getting walloped by a snow storm that has forced people to abandon their vehicles.
Crews from the Washington State Department of Transportation have been clearing roads of snow and downed trees all morning.
In Vancouver, WSDOT reports there have been “several” abandoned vehicles along highways.
Whoa! Look how much snow the plows are pushing off @VancouverUS highways this morning #wawx #vanwa #pdxtraffic pic.twitter.com/HvOrMkZzdU
— WSDOT – SW Region (@wsdot_sw) January 11, 2017
Things are even worse in Portland, where the Oregon Department of Transportation announced that chains are required on all vehicles on state roads.
Interstate 5 north of the Highway 217 interchange is jammed with semis and cars spinning out and blocking the freeway,” The Oregonian reports. “Currently, Interstate 205 is a better alternative to Portland or into Washington State.
An image from NASA shows just how hard Oregon is being hit.
NASA polar orbiter image earlier today. North half of Washington clearly visible. Not a single patch of Oregon in view. #wawx #orwx pic.twitter.com/uOxHsQ35UQ
— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) January 11, 2017
The National Weather Service issued a Winter Weather Advisory that expires at 10 a.m. Snow accumulation of up to 2 inches is possible this morning in the southwest interior of Washington. Snow showers will taper off to flurries.
Meanwhile, it remains relatively dry around Seattle, which was forecasted to receive a small amount of snow earlier this week.
