Snow blankets Kitsap, closing schools and bringing another frigid day

Overnight snow across the Kitsap peninsula closed schools Thursday and a blast of winter weather promises another frigid day.

Although the sun came out mid-morning to help melt snow from roadways, temperatures in the 30s are expected during the day Thursday and a return the 20s overnight into Friday, according to the National Weather Service. A clear, cold day is forecast for Friday, with another threat of below-freezing temperatures that night before another round of snow and rain could arrive this weekend.

Bremerton, Central Kitsap, North Kitsap and South Kitsap schools are closed, and North Mason schools were on a two-hour delay. Olympic College campuses in Bremerton, Poulsbo and Shelton also closed, after initially planning to open at 10 a.m.

Bainbridge Island schools are not in session this week, for mid-winter break.

Early morning WSF sailings on the Bainbridge-Seattle route, Bremerton-Seattle route, and Kingston-Edmonds route were also canceled, due to a lack of crew. Bainbridge and Kingston runs resumed service at 7 a.m. and Bremerton service was restored later in the morning.

There were several major interruptions for drivers on Highways 3 and 16 in the morning, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation, in addition to closures on local routes throughout the county due to ice. A collision on Highway 3 at the Chico Way exit around 7 a.m. closed the southbound lanes and forced a detour onto Chico Way. A second crash on southbound 3, at the nearby Austin Drive exit, also shut down the left lane of traffic for an extended period and blocked lanes at Loxie Eagans Boulevard in both directions were also reported. Also, drivers through South Kitsap dealt with a lane closure on westbound Highway 16 near Mullinex just before 8 a.m., according to WSDOT.

Kitsap County offices and the courthouse, Bremerton Municipal Court, as well as the Kitsap Public Health District, were on a two-hour delay.

Five severe weather shelters will be open Thursday night for residents who need a place to get out of the cold. Shelters open at 6 p.m. Thursday until 7 a.m. Friday at the Bremerton Salvation Army, Silverdale United Methodist Church, Gateway Fellowship in Poulsbo, Port Orchard United Methodist Church and Village Green Community Center in Kingston. Those needing transportation to the closest shelter can call 360-373-3000 to arrange for a ride before 7 p.m.

This story will be updated.

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Snow blankets Kitsap, closing schools and promising a chilly day