Northwest snow closes schools, cuts power

SEATTLE – After weeks of watching Portland deal with snow and ice, Seattle finally got its dose of winter weather.

The storm has left snow totals of an inch to more than a foot across western Washington, causing widespread school closures Monday. More than 75,000 Puget Sound Energy and Seattle City Light customers were without power.

The Seattle Times reported National Weather Service readings showing that one to four inches of snow fell across the Seattle metro area overnight. Everett and Olympia saw three to four inches of snowfall.

Many schools closed Monday, including Seattle Public Schools and the University of Washington, the Seattle Times reported.

The morning commute was expected to be a messy one in Seattle, but road crews worked through the night to get ahead of the storm.

A winter storm warning remains in effect for the greater Puget Sound Metro area.

Meanwhile, the Cascade Mountains could see 30 inches of snow through Monday afternoon. People were advised to only travel over Snoqualmie and White passes in an emergency.

In Portland, forecasts calling for a major snowstorm proved incorrect as temperatures stayed above freezing. Rain pummeled the region, pushing some rivers toward flood stage.