Chilly temperatures are expected to turn rain into slush and snowflakes again this morning, a repeat of a rare spring snowfall reported from Sumas to Lake Samish on Thursday.
The National Weather Service has issued a snow advisory until noon today. Light snow is expected in many areas, especially inland higher elevations. It could be enough in many areas to stick to roads and make for a messy morning commute.
Areas in western Whatcom County near the water likely will see mostly rain.
Snow showers should turn to rain by early afternoon across the region, according to the weather service. The winter-like weather has prompted the state Department of Transportation to extend the deadline for removing studded snow tires to April 5 from April 1, department official Chris Christopher said.
Early spring snowfall caused problems Thursday on both sides of the Cascades in Washington, including a fatal crash east of Auburn.
A 61-year-old woman died instantly when her car slid broadside into a parked State Patrol vehicle on Highway 18. As much as 5 inches of snow were reported in some areas southeast of Seattle overnight, and Highway 18 was closed through the morning commute because of the pileup.
According to a patrol report, troopers were investigating a number of spinout crashes and an apparent drunken-driving case when the woman’s late-model sedan went out of control and slammed into a patrol car parked on the eastbound shoulder at about 3 a.m. No troopers were injured.
In the southeast corner of the state, whiteout conditions were reported in much of the Palouse Thursday. A winter storm warning was issued for Pullman north to the Spokane area. U.S. Highway 195 was closed for several hours between Pullman and Colton, and troopers reported a number of spinouts involving tractor-trailer rigs.
The weather service said a record was set in Davenport, west of Spokane, where 3.4 inches of snow fell in 24 hours. That breaks the previous record of 1.5 inches set in 1985.
Avista Utilities reported power outages to about 400 customers in Davenport and Colville.