Updated: SNOPOCALYPSE 2012: Library Still Closed, Extensive Power Outages

UPDATE 10:28 a.m. 1/21/12

Stay updated on who is without power -- neighbors are sharing their status with us .

The Bonney Lake branch of the Pierce County Library is open. Sumner, Buckley and South Hill branches remain closed.

UPDATE 3:38 p.m. 1/20/12

From the City of Sumner:

The Metro Animal Services shelter remains closed and may continue to be closed through the weekend due to no power.  Officers are continuing to care for pets in our shelter and responding to calls in Puyallup, Sumner and all our partner cities, but the shelter itself cannot accept public visitors until power is restored. 

City of Sumner offices are closing at 4 pm today except for personnel already scheduled to work the winter weather event.

The following roads remain closed in Sumner and may remain so through the weekend: East Valley Highway, West Valley Highway, Forest Canyon Road, Sumner-Tapps Highway.  Weather forecasts are predicting high winds, which may temporarily prevent crews from being able to clean up downed trees. 

UPDATE: 10:23 a.m., 1/20/12

DM Disposal has cancelled Friday service:

Due to the ongoing poor road conditions in many residential areas, including icy roads, downed trees and limbs, and low power lines, there will be no residential garbage, recycling, or yard waste collection on Friday January 20th. Customers may set out double their normal material on the next collection date at no charge, which is in one week for garbage or two weeks for recycling or yard waste. We recognize the inconvenience faced by Customers when there is a weather service delay. We appreciate your understanding as we strive to assure that our Customers, neighbors, and employees are safe when conditions are hazardous. With the condition of trees and power-lines in residential areas; it is important for us to allow the emergency crews full access to these areas so that recovery can begin. For more details, click on “Winter Weather Service” in our announcements section.

Puget Sound Energy is reporting extensive power loss throughout Pierce County. Currently, over 270,000 customers are without power and may not have relief until this weekend, possibly next week. Most damage has been done by broken trees and power lines.

It's been a quiet week for crime in Bonney Lake and Sumner, with both departments reporting mostly snow-related issues and inquiries.

Both Sumner and Bonney Lake library branches are closed.

The following roads are still closed in Bonney Lake:

Rhodes Lake Road

Kelley Lake Road

Inlet Island

The following roads are still closed in Sumner:

East Valley Highway

West Valley Highway        

Forest Canyon Road         

Sumner-Tapps Highway

UPDATE: 8 a.m. 1/20/12

From Pierce Count ALERT:

Pierce County crews continue to work around the clock clearing snow, slush and tree debris from County roads. Primary arterials are mostly bare and wet with slush in places. Secondary roads have been plowed and are reasonably passable. Local access roads have not yet been plowed. Tree damage and debris is significant and is widespread.

Approximately 50 roads are closed at this time due to downed trees and utility lines, and another 61 sites have lane restrictions. Crews are working non-stop to coordinate with utility companies to open roads.  Drivers should reduce speed, allow extra time for their commute and use extra caution as branches and downed lines can be difficult to see. Temps are forecast to warm today so focus will transition to keeping roadside drainage open to prevent urban flooding; clearing the remaining closed lanes and removal of roadside tree debris.

Crews will continue to work around the clock until roads are returned to full function. http://blog.piercecountywa.org/emergency/2012/01/20/pierce-county-roads-update-4/  

UPDATE, 4:40pm. 1/19/12:

NO SCHOOL FRIDAY in the Sumner School District

More road closures to report: Rhodes Lake Road, Kelley Lake Road, Inlet Island and state Route 410 between Enumclaw and Greenwater due to downed trees and/or power lines.

The Bonney Lake Senior Center is serving as a warming center today.

And here's a link to Puget Sound Energy's power outage map, to see where things stand in the area. It shows 8,900 customers out in Bonney Lake and 2,900 in Sumner.

UPDATE: 8:15 a.m. 1/19/12

The following roads are currently closed in Sumner: ·         East Valley Highway ·         West Valley Highway ·         Forest Canyon Road ·         Sumner-Tapps Highway   In addition, there are many down trees, limbs and power lines throughout town.  Anyone driving or walking is asked to use extreme caution. 

The National Weather Service has issued an ice storm warning until noon Jan 19. Ice may accumulate from 2 to 4 tenths of an inch this morning. Travel will be severely impacted and is strongly discouraged. Power outages are likely. Pierce County Duty Officer is monitoring.

UPDATE: 7:30 p.m. 1/18/12

All Sumner School District schools are cancelled tomorrow, Thurs., Jan. 19. Any time school is closed due to inclement weather all before and after school and evening activities, athletics and extra-curricular events are canceled. This includes all practices, mandatory or volunteer, any contests, games, matches, meets, events, facility rentals, etc.

UPDATE: 6 p.m. 1/18/12

From the National Weather Service:

Snow likely, possibly mixed with freezing rain before 10pm, then a chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 31. North wind between 3 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. Little or no ice accumulation expected. Total nighttime snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

UPDATE: 3p.m.1/18/12

Sumner city offices close at 3 p.m.

SR 410 at Eli Hill in Bonney Lake is OPEN.

Bonney Lake city offices close at noon today.

All Pierce County Library locations are closed.

Metro Animal Services is closed.

DM Disposal will not pick up trash today. There will be no garbage, recycling, or yard waste collection. Customers may set out double their normal material on the next collection date at no charge, which is in one week for garbage or two weeks for recycling or yard waste.

The Sumner School District is closed Weds., Jan. 18 due to snow. Any time school is closed due to inclement weather all before and after school and evening activities, athletics and extra-curricular events are canceled. This includes all practices, mandatory or volunteer, any contests, games, matches, meets, events, facility rentals, etc. 

Sumner city offices will open at 10 am, except for personnel who are already working the winter weather event.

Bonney Lake Municipal Court is closed. Defendants must call the court at 253-826-6606 before Jan. 20 at 4 p.m. to reschedule their court date.

Bonney Lake's Community Development Committee meeting tonight is cancelled.

The Sumner Senior Center and Sumner Municipal Court is closed. All Court cases are reset to Weds., January 25, at the same time. 

All Pierce County buildings and departments are closed today.

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UPDATE: 3:45 p.m., 1/17/12

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for all of Western Washington. Pierce County can expect to receive 6 to 14 inches of snow on Wednesday beginning after midnight. Emergency Management is urging residents and businesses to take the time to prepare homes and vehicles for the upcoming snow storm. For more information on how to prepare, visit www.piercecountywa.gov/prepare.

There are no road closures in Bonney Lake or Sumner, but police did warn that drivers should use caution on Forest Canyon Rd. and Sumner-Tapps Highway.

The snow plow crews in Bonney Lake have been working since Saturday night and will continue round the clock until Wednesday Evening/Thursday morning, depending on the weather.

Pierce Transit Update: Route 410 is continues to operate on snow detour and not serving the Pierce College Puyallup campus. All other routes remain on regular route. Stay tuned as weather conditions change.

School is out today. We'll keep you posted on tomorrow.

In the meantime, ! And keep us informed, if you see any road blockages, closures or cool snowmen out there.

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Heavy.

Heavy, as in 6-to-14-inches-of-snow heavy.

That's how the National Weather Service is describing the winter storm that's expected to blanket the Puget Sound later Tuesday through Wednesday:

.SNOW SHOWERS...LOCALLY HEAVY...WILL CONTINUE TODAY. AFTER A BREAK THIS EVENING...A MAJOR WINTER STORM WILL MOVE INTO WESTERN WASHINGTON FROM THE SOUTH LATE TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY. WAZ505-507>511-514-515-180000- /O.UPG.KSEW.WS.A.0001.120118T0800Z-120119T0800Z/ /O.NEW.KSEW.WS.W.0003.120118T0800Z-120119T0800Z/ /O.CON.KSEW.WW.Y.0005.000000T0000Z-120118T0000Z/ EAST PUGET SOUND LOWLANDS-EVERETT AND VICINITY- SEATTLE/BREMERTON AREA-TACOMA AREA-ADMIRALTY INLET AREA- HOOD CANAL AREA-EASTERN STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- WESTERN STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 500 AM PST TUE JAN 17 2012 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON... ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO MIDNIGHT PST WEDNESDAY NIGHT... * SOME AFFECTED LOCATIONS...SEATTLE...TACOMA...BREMERTON... SHELTON. * TIMING...TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING. * SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...ANOTHER 1 TO 2 INCHES IS POSSIBLE TODAY IN SHOWERS. SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED LATE TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING WITH ANOTHER 5 TO 10 INCHES OF NEW SNOW POSSIBLE BY WEDNESDAY EVENING. * MAIN IMPACT...EXPECT EXTREME TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES TO DEVELOP ON WEDNESDAY. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... IF YOU MUST TRAVEL IN THE AREA...CARRY AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT... FOOD...WATER...AND BLANKETS IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. &&

So I don't know about ya'll, but what that means to me is be prepared for a thick coating of the white stuff. The NWS recommends having an extra flashlight, food, water and blankets in case of emergency.