Overnight snow results in power outages, delays and closures in Thurston County

Wet snow blanketed the Olympia area overnight, resulting in dangerous road conditions, power outages and school closures Thursday morning.

The National Weather Service in Seattle issued a winter weather advisory Wednesday that warned of possible snow accumulations of up to 3 inches until 10 a.m. Thursday.

The wet snow left 27,895 customers without power due to 332 outages in their regional service area as of 8 a.m. Thursday, according to Puget Sound Energy. The power agency reported about 132 outages in the wider Thurston County area and 62 in the Centralia area.

In a post on X, the city of Olympia announced work crews were plowing “lifeline streets” used by transit and fire responders Thursday morning. The city asked residents to avoid unnecessary travel and watch for downed trees and power lines.

Thurston County Public Works notified residents of multiple road closures due to trees in power lines. The county’s travel impacts map listed several closures Thursday morning.

• Case Road Southwest from 140th Avenue to 183rd Avenue was closed.

• 113th Avenue Southwest from Tilley Road to Case Road was closed.

• Carper Road Southwest from James Road to Old Highway 9 was closed.

• Summit Lake Road Northwest from State Route 8 to Summit Lake Shore Road was closed.

Washington state troopers kept busy Wednesday night helping motorists who got stuck in snow in the area of Interstate 5 and U.S. 101, Trooper John Dattilo posted on X.

There’s a chance the region may get more of the rain and snow mix into Friday morning, according to the NWS. Rain is expected through Saturday with lows in the 30s and highs in the 40s, according to the forecast.

Closures and delays

• Thurston County announced its offices and courts would open after a 2-hour delay Thursday. Superior Court plans to start its calendar at 10:30 a.m. while District Court will allow docket items to be heard virtually at their previously scheduled times.

• The Evergreen State College suspended operations Thursday. In-person classes were canceled but remote classes were scheduled to continue.

• Olympia School District announced a three-hour late start Thursday due to icy roads. Morning buses are running on emergency snow routes. Preschool, out-of-district transportation and before-school activities were canceled.

• North Thurston Public Schools announced a three-hour late start Thursday due to road conditions. Preschool, school breakfast and out-of-district transportation was canceled. After school activities are expected to continue as scheduled.

• Tumwater School District closed all its schools Thursday due to weather conditions and some of the schools being without power.

• Rainier School District opened schools two hours late Thursday. Morning preschool and out-of-district transportation was canceled. All buses are on snow routes.

• Rochester School District canceled classes Thursday due to power outages and downed power lines over roadways.

• Tenino School District closed Thursday due to dangerous road conditions.

• Griffin School District closed Thursday due to inclement weather.

• Elma School District closed Thursday.
  
  

• McCleary School District closed Thursday.

• Montesano School District announced a three-hour late start Thursday.