Rain leading to sloppy Puget Sound commutes

Puget Sound freeways are sloppy Tuesday morning but mainly from rain rather than snow.

The rain starts south of Shoreline and goes down through Seattle, Federal Way, Tacoma and all the way to Portland but there are limited instances of snow in this area thus far.

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A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the Kitsap Penninsula toward Shelton until 10 a.m., for a slushy inch or two of snow possible, says KIRO 7 meteorologist Kelly Franson. In the other direction, east of Seattle toward Maple Valley, Issaquah and North Bend, there are chances of snow, with foothills also under a winter advisory. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for the north and central Cascades until 6 a.m. Wednesday, with snow possible accumulations of 1 to 2 feet — the highest amounts above 4,000 feet.

In the middle around the Sound, it is mainly rain.

“That’s not to say we won’t see a little snow at times this morning on the higher hills,” Franson said. “It is just very unlikely to accumulate.”

Franson expects widespread rain throughout the day as a system swings in from the southwest, with a quarter-inch to half-inch total.

KIRO Radio’s Chris Sullivan said the rain is causing headaches for morning commuters, particularly getting out of Tacoma on I-5 through Fife. Drive times from Everett to Seattle edged two hours.

Temperatures are currently in the mid-30s, part of a chilly trend.

Seattle has had a below avg daily temperature 71% of the time since Jan 1st. Spring is just around the corner, right?!? Not so fast. #wawx pic.twitter.com/j4BTngf4hp

— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) March 7, 2017

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