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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Snowstorm Causes Precarious Driving Many Accidents In Southwestern Washington

Associated Press

A fast-moving snowstorm caused dozens of accidents Sunday in whiteout conditions in southwestern Washington state, especially along the Interstate 5 corridor and through the Columbia River Gorge.

Hundreds of accidents, mostly spinouts and fender-benders, were reported in Pierce, Thurston, Grays Harbor, Pacific, Lewis, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark, Skamania and Klickitat counties.

An eight-car pileup was reported near Kent, but there were no major injuries or storm-related deaths, State Patrol communication officers said.

The patrol issued an appeal to motorists to avoid all but essential travel between Tacoma and the Columbia River.

The next Pacific weather system is expected to move into Western Washington this afternoon, bringing rain and snow. The Weather Service said 1 to 3 inches of snow is possible in the southern and central Puget Sound area before turning to rain this evening.

A deeper, colder air mass over the northwest interior, however, means the possibility of 4 to 8 inches of new snow could fall there tonight and Tuesday morning, the Weather Service said.

The weekend storm was more severe in northwestern Oregon, forcing a two-hour shutdown of Portland International Airport and longer closures of Interstate 84 through the gorge and U.S. 30 east of Astoria.

Some snow also fell in parts of Eastern Washington, but no significant traffic problems were reported, said patrol dispatchers in Spokane and Yakima.

Snow was likely again beginning this afternoon for some parts of Eastern Washington.

All state and federal highways in Washington remained open, but chains were required on Washington 14 through the gorge, U.S. 97 in southern Klickitat County and U.S. 12 through White Pass.

Unofficial snowfall totals reported to the National Weather Service on Sunday included 11 inches in Centralia, 8 inches in Olympia, 6 inches in Shelton, 4 inches in Puyallup and 3 inches in Federal Way, Moclips, Pacific Beach and Tacoma. Also, 6 inches in Yakima, 5 inches in Walla Walla, 4 inches in Kennewick and 2 inches in Wenatchee.