Puyallup Reopens City Buildings As Cold Lingers

PUYALLUP, WA — Crews in Puyallup continue to clear roads Tuesday morning after receiving less than an inch of snow Monday night. Crews continue to plow main roads first, followed by residential streets, and apply sand to ice. Below is a map of levels, with red streets treated first, followed by blue, followed by purple, followed by green.

Temperatures have risen by about 10 degrees since Monday, which the National Weather Service said was the coldest day in Seattle in 31 years. In Puyallup, it is 28 degrees as of 4 p.m. Tuesday.

After closing Monday, Puyallup City Hall, Puyallup Library, and Puyallup Recreation Center reopened Tuesday. They will all be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Thursday, the city said. The Senior Activity Center will remain closed through the rest of the week.

Holiday Magic at the Fair is operating from 5-9 p.m. through Thursday, and final entry will be granted at 8:30 p.m. each night.

Cheney Stadium has reopened for COVID-19 testing, though appointments are still required. The Bonney Lake, Enumclaw, and Grays Harbor Discovery Health COVID testing sites are still closed Tuesday.

In Pierce County, all yard waste sites are now open except the Key Center Transfer Center in Lakebay are open Tuesday. Full Pierce County road closures and winter weather updates can be found here.

Snow and freezing temperatures are expected to continue for the rest of the week in Pierce County. In Puyallup, temperatures are expected to drop to about 19 degrees Tuesday night, and there is a 40% chance of snow that will accumulate less than half an inch. Wednesday will see a high near 29. More significant amounts of rain and snow are expected Wednesday night, and continue throughout Thursday. The National Weather Service predicts accumulation of 1-3 inches. Temperatures will crack the 40s for the first time on New Year’s Day, and are expected to hover around the early 40s with rain for the next few days.

Pierce Transit is also offering free rides to the Lighthouse Activity Center and the Tacoma Rescue Mission in Tacoma as an extended warming center. Through Dec. 30, a number of local shelters in Tacoma and Puyallup are expanding overnight capacity. A full list can be seen on the Tacoma Pierce County Coalition to End Homelessness website.

The following parks in Tacoma remain closed Tuesday:

• People’s Community Center Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
• Northwest Trek Wildlife
• Park Point Defiance Marina Tacoma Nature Center
• Fort Nisqually Meadow Park Golf Course W.W. Seymour Conservatory

Residents are still advised to stay home if possible. Anyone driving is advised to slow down, allow extra time, clear snow off windows, and put extra distance between the vehicle in front. Washington State Police said that on Sunday, troopers responded to 166 collisions in Pierce and Thurston counties.

For more tips on how to drive safely on the ice and avoid frozen pipes, visit Bonney Lake’s winter preparedness page.