PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Snow, ice and shivering cold blasted normally mild cities from Seattle to Las Vegas to San Francisco on Tuesday as winter weather sweeping across the U.S. West shuttered schools, made travel…

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Snow, ice and shivering cold blasted normally mild cities from Seattle to Las Vegas to San Francisco on Tuesday as winter weather sweeping across the U.S. West shuttered schools, made travel treacherous and closed all roads in Yosemite National Park.

Winter storms have been hitting the West for several days and brought a surprise dusting to peaks overlooking San Francisco — the city’s first notable snow in eight years. Snow also piled higher at ski resorts, closing runs in Lake Tahoe and the California mountains as snow reached 7 to 10 feet (2 to 3 meters) since Saturday.

“We don’t get snow up here in the area,” said Jess Moseley, who traveled from the San Francisco Bay Area to snowy Mount Diablo State Park 40 miles (64 kilometers) away. “You have to go to Tahoe or wherever to play in the snow. So we just came up to see if it was still here, and it is.”

In the Pacific Northwest, lows plunged into the teens in Seattle, making roads slick and closing schools throughout the area for a second day. Unusual snow fell a day earlier, causing crashes and canceling flights, and lower-than-normal temperatures were expected throughout the week.

Rare snow and cold also walloped Portland, Oregon, where it shut schools and left some higher elevation roads slick.

Natalie Razey, 9, of Lake Oswego, Oregon, said that when the snow flurries started Monday, her teacher shared some advice for ensuring a snow day Tuesday.

“Our teacher let us do a snow dance while it was snowing at school yesterday, and I flushed ice cubes down the toilet and I put spoons under my pillow,” she said during a break from sledding and snowball fights.

In Nevada, the National Weather Service reported light snow in northwest Las Vegas.

Lake Tahoe-area ski resorts celebrated the biggest storm of the season, with 3 feet (1 meter) recorded over 24 hours. That brought the total to about 7 feet (2 meters) at Heavenly Ski Resort and Kirkwood Mountain Resort since Saturday. But so much snow fell, they could only open limited trails.

About 120 miles (190 kilometers) south, Mammoth Mountain Resort reported 10 feet (3 meters) of snow since Saturday and closed all but a few trails.

Yosemite’s ski area also shut down, while restaurants had shorter hours and shuttles were not running because of snow-covered roads.

“It’s beautiful and we certainly need the snow, but we’re asking people to stay indoors,” park spokesman Scott Gediman said.

California is still recovering from a drought that led to tight water restrictions and contributed to severe wildfires.

In Utah, a semi-trailer slid off an icy highway in a canyon and hit a deputy, sending him to the hospital with serious injuries and closing the road. The unnamed Rich County sheriff’s deputy is expected to survive. He was hit outside his vehicle as he investigated a different semi-trailer that had lost control and rolled off the road.

It was one of several crashes across Utah as several inches of snow fell.

Montana residents braved the third day of subzero temperatures and biting wind chill.

Wind and fresh snowfall led officials to warn of high avalanche danger in southwestern Montana near Yellowstone National Park, and an avalanche warning was in place for the Centennial Mountains in eastern Idaho.

The region, which also includes northwestern Wyoming, was expected to receive up to 8 more inches (20 centimeters) of snow in the mountains by Wednesday.

For much of the rest of Montana, officials warned of wind chills between 20 and 35 degrees below zero through Wednesday. In those conditions, frostbite can set in within 10 minutes, officials said.

Those who ventured out in downtown Helena during a break in the snow shrugged off the minus 4 degree temperature, calling it one prolonged cold snap in what’s been a relatively mild winter.

“It’s inconvenient, that’s all,” said Bruce Schwartz, a 62-year-old retiree. “I’m going to work out and spend a lot of time soaking in the hot tub.”

Associated Press writers Olga Rodriguez in San Francisco; Scott Sonner in Reno, Nevada; Matt Volz in Helena, Montana; and Terry Chea at Mount Diablo State Park, California, contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.</s>The second snowstorm in week to hit the Seattle region snarled freeways, stalled bus routes and led Gov. Jay Inslee to declare a state of emergency on Friday.

Residents also made a dash to grocery stores, stocking up for the snowy weather that could stick around for days as temperatures are expected to linger around freezing.

In a warning ahead of the snowfall, King County Executive Dow Constantine called the intensity of the storm a “once every decade or two occurrence.” Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan called it a “potentially very dangerous storm.”

“Our number-one goal is to keep people safe,” she said.

The snow came in waves Friday and is expected to accumulate 4 to 6 inches through the evening and into Saturday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Evening rush hour came early in Seattle, as a mass exodus of commuters headed home early to beat the snow, congesting roads within and out of the city.

Commute times on common routes were double — and in some cases nearly triple — the usual about 3 p.m., according to the Washington Department of Transportation. Traffic was heavy or stop-and-go on Interstate 5 for much of the stretch between North Seattle and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Travel times started to improve about 4 p.m.

King County Metro buses, already running with reduced frequency, filled up and passed people at stops. Metro is operating with about 65 percent of its peak commute fleet, down from about 75 percent Wednesday, said spokeswoman Torie Rynning.

The snow, which began to fall around noon in Seattle, hadn’t yet stuck on major roads, although other parts of the state had already seen up to 8 inches.

Meteorologists had predicted up to 8 inches of snow in the Seattle area from Friday to Saturday. But now accumulation is expected to be around 4 to 6 inches from Everett to Seattle, and maybe even down to Tacoma, said weather service meteorologist Kirby Cook.

“Eight is still possible, but it’s looking less likely. That’s the worst-case scenario,” Cook said. “The area of real concern is the Port Angeles, Port Townsend area of the northern peninsula. They’re going to be the hardest hit.”

Parts of the northern Olympic Peninsula had already seen up to 8 inches of snow by 3 p.m., and may get another 4 or 5 inches tonight, Cook said.

A winter storm warning is in effect for parts of Western Washington through 4 p.m. Saturday, although the weather service may revise that depending on conditions.

Heavy snowfall will continue through 9 p.m. and then begin to taper off, transitioning into lighter snow showers that could linger into Saturday morning, Cook said. The snow should end by Saturday afternoon, but drivers will be left with icy road conditions, as nighttime temperatures could drop into the teens this weekend, he said.

There’s a slight chance there will be more snow showers from Seattle southward Sunday and Monday, and then again Monday night into Tuesday, Cook said.

Even if that doesn’t occur, the snow from this weekend will likely stick around for a bit.

“It’s just going to get colder and things might refreeze,” Cook said. “It will stay cold through the weekend and into at least the middle of next week.”</s>A winter storm along America’s west coast has brought near record-breaking snowfall to cities such as Seattle and Portland, the second time in a week the region has been hit.

The National Weather Service has issued winter storm warnings from northern California to Washington state and west into Montana. The region is expected to receive more than 6in of snow, with more in the mountains.

Already, Seattle-Tacoma airport saw the second highest snowfall ever for a single day, at 6.4in, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters expect the snowstorms to continue into next week.

Washington’s governor, Jay Inslee, declared a state of emergency because of the storms on Friday evening. More than 170 flights have been canceled into and out of Seattle-Tacoma Airport.

Seattle rarely sees large winter storms. In 2016, writers from the sunny Los Angeles Times dubbed the city “snow wimps”, writing that Seattle “always marched unarmed into its infrequent battles with snow”.

The worst winter storm on record to hit the region was in 1916, when 38in of snow paralyzed the city for days and caused the collapse of a historic dome on St James Cathedral, according to the Seattle Times.

In addition to massive traffic delays, the wintry weather has also resulted in at least one life threatening situation. In Edgewood, Washington, just south of Seattle, local sheriffs rescued a young woman who fell through the ice on a pond while walking her dog. Both were rescued.

Chilly temperatures are expected to continue through the weekend.</s>Snowstorm buries Pacific Northwest, with more on the way

Some areas received more than a foot of snow, and meteorologists say more is on the way early next week.</s>SEATTLE — A winter storm pounded Washington state, forcing the cancellation of flights in Seattle as officials worked to get people off the streets and into shelters during the nation's latest bout with winter weather.

Gov. Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency for the state of Washington, saying everyone in the state should focus on staying safe, as a winter storm warning went into effect from Friday until Saturday at 4 p.m. PST.

"Forecasters predict this may be a storm unlike one we've seen in many years," he said.

Snow began falling north of Seattle with some areas recording 8 inches of snow before it made its way south and enveloped the city.

Many businesses closed early so workers could get home.

More than 50,000 customers were without power on Saturday, according to Washington state utility company Puget Sound Energy.

As of 9 a.m. PST on Saturday, more than 180 flight had been cancelled at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, according to flight tracking site FlightAware.

In California, more than 120 visitors and staff members were rescued after being snowbound in a Sierra Nevada resort for five days.

Up to 7 feet of snow had trapped the guests and staff beginning Sunday at Montecito Sequoia Lodge in Kings Canyon National Park, U.S. Forest Service spokesman Alicia Embrey said.

Crews had to travel by snowmobile to get to the lodge in mountains east of Fresno. Heavy equipment and crews then cleared more than 20 fallen trees and 8 miles of deep snow on the road leading to the lodge to allow guests and staff to leave the property Thursday night.

Another winter storm was on the way to the region.

In Yosemite National Park, as many as 50 housing structures near Half Dome Village were damaged by trees toppled during a snowstorm earlier this week, displacing more than 160 employees who provide food, lodging and other services for visitors.

Elsewhere, more than 148,000 customers were without electricity in Michigan following days of freezing rain. The Consumers Energy utility said power would be restored by late Sunday.

In Seattle, officials urged people to stay off the roads as traffic slowed to a standstill in some places because of the snow.

"Doesn't matter where you're going, expect it to take a very. long. time," the Washington Department of Transportation said on Twitter.

Schools and colleges had canceled classes ahead of the storm expected to bring 6 to 8 inches of snow. Scores of flights were cancelled or delayed at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Snowfall from Sunday and Monday lingered into the week as below-freezing temperatures gripped the area. A 59-year-old man died Thursday from exposure at a Seattle light rail station.

Additional shelter space opened by city and county officials was filling up. The city was focused on people who are willing to come inside, Will Lemke, spokesman for the Seattle Human Services Department, told the Seattle Times.

"This is an extreme weather event, and offering shelter is the most important thing we can do right now," he said.

Forecasters said Portland, Oregon, could get up to 4 inches of snow later in the day, with two more snowstorms expected to hit the city next week.

Residents in Portland and Seattle, two cities where rain is more common than snow in the winter, emptied grocery store shelves and waited in long lines to buy shovels and de-icer.

Autumn Sang was at a mobbed grocery store in Tualatin, Oregon, on Friday stocking up for the coming storm for herself and her neighbor, who is disabled and doesn't have a car.

Sang said she had never seen the store so crowded. She grew up in southern Oregon, where snow is more common, and wasn't fazed by the forecast.

"I love it. I'm excited about it," she said of the snow. "I think that Portlanders, most of them are city people and they come from a lot of different places, so they're not so used to it. It's like, 'Use your brain! If you don't have to go out, don't go out.'"</s>Seattle, Washington -- There was an unusual sight at the world-famous Pike Place Market in Seattle Saturday morning: about 4 inches of snow on the ground already. Two to six more inches of snow were in the forecast as a winter storm pounded the state.

Washington Governor Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency Friday for the entire state and urged people to stay off the roads. People cleared grocery store shelves as they rushed to prepare.

One county official warned the storm could be a "once every decade or two occurrence," CBS News' Carter Evans reported.

As it moved it, the storm obscured Seattle's famous Space Needle from sight. In the city's Queen Anne neighborhood Friday night, one bus had to bail off its route after it got stuck on a snow-covered street. Some roads were closed completely overnight Friday into Saturday.

More than six inches of snow fell at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. At least 200 flights were canceled to accommodate the winter weather, and a snowball fight unfolded between workers on the tarmac.

More flight cancellations are expected out of Seattle Saturday. By early morning, 80 were already canceled.

Conditions are likely to let up later in the day, but another storm system is expected to push across the area late Sunday. That system could bring even more snow.</s>Three inches of snow is possible this weekend on the North Coast.

The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory from 7 p.m. tonight through 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon.</s>PORTLAND, Ore. — The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory from 7 p.m. Friday through 4 p.m. Saturday, calling for 2 to 4 inches to fall.

The weather service says up to 6 inches could fall at elevations 1,000 feet or higher.

Bookmark this page for weather delays and closures!

"Plan on snow and ice covered roads tonight and Saturday," the NWS announced Friday. "Travel conditions will deteriorate quickly tonight as temperatures fall below freezing. There is a small chance freezing may occur before this evening`s commute is over."

"Snow will quickly taper off Saturday evening as very cold air arrives, dropping valley temps to near 20 degrees," Hill said. "Sunday looks mostly dry with flurries and daytime highs near 32 degrees. Keep an eye Sunday evening for a second weather system dropping one to three inches of accumulation in Portland into Monday morning."

Hill said 1 to 2 inches of snow could fall at the coast, and expect 4 to 8 inches in the Coast Range and 6 to 12 inches in the Cascade foothills.

KGW meteorologist Matt Zaffino answered your weather questions in this Thursday Facebook live chat.

Get the new KGW Portland weather app

KGW meteorologist Rod Hill said some forecast models show the possibility of several inches of snow through Wednesday. While Zaffino said that scenario is not out of the question, he added there's a low-percentage chance the metro area gets that much snow.

With this latest storm, nearly five feet of snow could fall on Mount Hood from through next Tuesday, according to Zaffino. Over 4 feet could fall at HooDoo ski area and nearly 4 feet at Mount Bachelor.

Before Saturday's snowfall, the National Weather Service expected a band of light snow Friday morning between Wilsonville and Eugene. Accumulations will likely be between a dusting and a half-inch, the NWS said.

Possibility of snow between Wilsonville and Eugene on Friday morning

The weekend snow storm follows one that created problems on the roads Monday and led to school closures throughout southwest Washington and western Oregon on Tuesday.</s>There is a Winter Storm Watch in effect for Western Washington the could bring 3-5 inches of snow in the east county of Grays Harbor; up to 4 inches possible on the coast.</s>A winter storm pounded Washington state Friday, forcing the cancellation of 200 flights in Seattle as officials worked to get people off the streets and into shelters during the nation's latest bout with winter weather.

Snow began falling north of Seattle with some areas recording 8 inches (20 centimeters) of snow before it made its way south and enveloped the city.

Many businesses closed early so workers could get home.

Gov. Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency, saying everyone in the state should focus on staying safe.

"Forecasters predict this may be a storm unlike one we've seen in many years," he said.

In California, more than 120 visitors and staff members were rescued after being snowbound in a Sierra Nevada resort for five days.

Up to 7 feet (2 meters) of snow had trapped the guests and staff beginning Sunday at Montecito Sequoia Lodge in Kings Canyon National Park, U.S. Forest Service spokesman Alicia Embrey said.

Crews had to travel by snowmobile to get to the lodge in mountains east of Fresno. Heavy equipment and crews then cleared more than 20 fallen trees and 8 miles (13 kilometers) of deep snow on the road leading to the lodge to allow guests and staff to leave the property Thursday night.

Another winter storm was on the way to the region.

In Yosemite National Park, as many as 50 housing structures near Half Dome Village were damaged by trees toppled during a snowstorm earlier this week, displacing more than 160 employees who provide food, lodging and other services for visitors.

Elsewhere, more than 148,000 customers were without electricity in Michigan following days of freezing rain. The Consumers Energy utility said power would be restored by late Sunday.

In Seattle, officials urged people to stay off the roads as traffic slowed to a standstill in some places because of the snow.

"Doesn't matter where you're going, expect it to take a very. long. time," the Washington Department of Transportation said on Twitter.

Schools and colleges had canceled classes ahead of the storm expected to bring 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 centimeters) of snow. Scores of flights were cancelled or delayed at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Snowfall from Sunday and Monday lingered into the week as below-freezing temperatures gripped the area. A 59-year-old man died Thursday from exposure at a Seattle light rail station.

Additional shelter space opened by city and county officials was filling up. The city was focused on people who are willing to come inside, Will Lemke, spokesman for the Seattle Human Services Department, told the Seattle Times.

"This is an extreme weather event, and offering shelter is the most important thing we can do right now," he said.

Forecasters said Portland, Oregon, could get up to 4 inches (10 centimeters) of snow later in the day, with two more snowstorms expected to hit the city next week.

Residents in Portland and Seattle, two cities where rain is more common than snow in the winter, emptied grocery store shelves and waited in long lines to buy shovels and de-icer.

Autumn Sang was at a mobbed grocery store in Tualatin, Oregon, on Friday stocking up for the coming storm for herself and her neighbor, who is disabled and doesn't have a car.

Sang said she had never seen the store so crowded. She grew up in southern Oregon, where snow is more common, and wasn't fazed by the forecast.

"I love it. I'm excited about it," she said of the snow. "I think that Portlanders, most of them are city people and they come from a lot of different places, so they're not so used to it. It's like, 'Use your brain! If you don't have to go out, don't go out.'"
Washington Governor Jay Inslee declares a state of emergency as a winter storm that could bring up to 8 inches (20 cm) of snow begins to affect the state.