The snow arrived later than expected Wednesday but Mother Nature certainly reminded Sammamish residents by Thursday morning that winter had not left.
For many residents, that reminder was welcomed. Kids and adults took to hills, parks and schools to play and sled in the cold temperatures before spring and the sun really make their presence known.
From Wednesday to Thursday morning, the Eastside received 2 to 6 inches of snow, officials said. On Thursday, another 1 to 2 inches was possible and the city of Sammamish dispatched seven plow trucks to work the streets.
On Friday, the Lake Washington School District resumed classes, following campus closures on Wednesday and Thursday. District buses operated on a normal schedule, a spokeswoman said.
Allied Waste and Waste Management halted Thursday garbage services for Sammamish customers. City plow crews worked to clear the streets and focussed on the main roads, Public Works Director Laura Philpot said Thursday.
"Crews will keep working until the snow and ice are gone," she wrote in an email.
Kyle Endelman, a city maintenance manager, said Thursday the city plows have been out working around the clock. While the main roads have been sanded and de-iced, many residential side streets remain compacted with snow and ice, he said.
Those streets might not be cleared until Friday, he added. On Thursday evening, Sammamish resident Tim Jack used his Twitter account to thank city crews for clearing the snow and ice.
From Wednesday night to Thursday morning, Sammamish police responded to reports of vehicles stuck in the snow, Police Chief Nate Elledge said.
On Wednesday around 11:30 pm, a motorist suffered a minor cut to the head after his vehicle slid on ice and hit a fence in the 1400 block of 268th Way Southeast, officials said. The 17-year-old boy was taken to a hospital.
Thursday’s temperatures were in the 20s and will drop into the teens on Friday, National Weather Service meteorologist Art Gaebel said.
"It's liable to stick around for a day or two," he said Thursday, referring to the snow.
Parents with students in the Lake Washington School District had a "Ground Hog Day" movie moment on Thursday morning, as they were woken up early again by a pre-recorded phone message from officials announcing another snow day.
Some parents grumbled Wednesday when the district cancelled classes and little snow fell.
On Thursday morning, the Weather Service ended its winter storm warning for heavy snow.
Friday saw sun and could see a high of 31.
As of Thursday morning, Concrete had picked one of the highest amounts of snow that Gaebel had heard – 10 inches. While Sea-Tac Airport received 3 inches, Everett saw between 6 to 8 inches.
The Cascade mountain range was expected to receive 12 to 18 inches of snow from Wednesday through Thursday morning, he added.
On Twitter, the Washington state Department of Transportation reported Thursday that Snoqualmie Pass received 38 inches of snow over the last three days.
On Saturday, the region could see rain. The Weather Service is reporting, though, that Sammamish has a 60 percent chance of snow on Saturday evening with possibly an inch falling.
While the Lake Washington School District cancelled classes for two days, the Issaquah School District and Eastside Catholic School were closed this week because of the second winter vacation.
City of Sammamish officials earlier in the week reminded residents to take care of water pipes and pets, especially since temperatures dipped into the teens on Friday.
King County Metro Transit officials also asked commuters to be prepared for snow routes, disruptions and delays. Also, they said, allow for extra time to reach evening destinations and check Metro's website for updates.
On Friday, Metro bus routed returned to a normal schedule.
Editor's note: In case you missed how weather patterns affect the Sammamish Plateau, take a look here to get better insight.
