SEATTLE (AP) - Freezing temperatures and more snowfall created hazardous driving conditions and caused more school delays and closures in the Puget Sound area.
Overnight snow prompted Seattle Public Schools to institute a two-hour delay Tuesday for the second day in row, while districts in Bellevue, Issaquah, Everett and Federal Way were among those closing.
And driving was tricky in some areas. Highway 2 remained closed Tuesday between Gold Bar and Stevens Pass and a jackknifed semi-truck caused westbound Interstate 90 to close near Ellensburg. Westbound I-90 reopened later Tuesday but the eastbound lanes of I-90 were shut around 3 p.m. near Denny Creek because of vehicle spinouts.
The westbound lanes of the Highway 520 floating bridge, which connects Seattle and its eastern suburbs, reopened after about 30 vehicles crashed on the slippery roadway Monday evening. Washington State Department of Transportation crews treated the bridge with salt and sand.
Winter storm watches were upgraded to warnings for Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning for much of the northern half of Western Washington, with another 3 to 5 inches of snow possible in the Seattle area and high winds forecast for Whatcom County and the San Juan Islands.
And forecasters say additional snowfall is possible Wednesday night into Thursday, before warmer temperatures and rain are expected by the weekend.
In Oregon, a dusting of snow fell in Portland Tuesday. Interstate 84 westbound was closed near Baker City Tuesday afternoon because of multiple vehicle incidents, state Department of Transportation officials said. A storm warning was issued off Oregon’s coast for very strong winds forecast to cause hazardous seas on Wednesday.
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