Forecasts for today show lower snow levels but warm enough temperatures to keep precipitation as rain in the Olympia area, said meteorologist Dennis D’Amico. Elevations above 500 feet could see snow during heavier showers.
That could change tonight into Saturday morning. Lows will be in the mid 20s but forecasts are conflicted on how much precipitation will be around, D’Amico said.
“The timing has got to be right,” D’Amico said. If the timing is right, the Olympia area would see only light snow showers with accumulation unlikely.
A wet mix of rain and snow could create problems on the roadways as temperatures drop.
“We are going to be cold the next couple of nights and people should be aware of ice concerns,” D’Amico said.
Public works departments throughout the county are gearing up for the winter season.
The City of Lacey added a new plow to its fleet this year and city crews were out on the roads being trained on the trucks this week, said operations manager Brad Burdick. He added that the city will have crews on standby this weekend in case streets have to be sanded or deiced.
“We are ready. Bring it on,” he said.
In Tumwater, sand and salt supplies are at capacity, said Marc Lavack, operations supervisor. Included is about 100 yards of sand-salt mix, 30 tons of road salt and 6,000 gallons of deicer.
“This is historically going to be more than enough to get us through any one event,” Lavack said.
The city is down one of its three sanders due to repair, but expects to have it ready by early December.
Thurston County Public Works has upped deicer capacity this year, adding four 5,000-gallon storage tanks to better prepare for long-term ice storms, and to sell, said Jack Lane, interim road operations manager. Lane added that crews have their eye on Friday night and Saturday morning, when freezing temperatures and precipitation could make for icy roads.
Nate Hulings: 360-754-5476 nhulings@theolympian.com www.theolympian.com/outsideoly
