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Seattle update: snowplows out, some streets closed

A woman walks gingerly across icy Boylston Avenue on Seattle's First Hill Tuesday morning. The street had a thick layer of compact snow and ice, like many in the region.
Gary Davis/KPLU
A woman walks gingerly across icy Boylston Avenue on Seattle's First Hill Tuesday morning. The street had a thick layer of compact snow and ice, like many in the region.

Snowplows are working icy Seattle streets this morning after a nightmare Monday snowstorm and deep freeze left many roads impassable. 

Abandoned cars and multiple fender-benders prevented access for plows to many streets.

Fifteen crews are on Seattle streets spreading rock salt to melt compact snow and ice.  The city's emergency management office posted the list of street closures, as of 7:30 a.m.  It includes:

The following roads are closed:

  • 1700-2200 block of East Madison Street,
  • 19th Avenue Eeast and Boyer Avenue
  • West Dravus Street  from 20th Avenue West to 27th Avenue West
  • 6th Avenue South from Yesler Way to South Main Street
  • Northeast 51st Street and Latona Avenue Northeast
  • Denny Way from Melrose to Stewart
  • 23rd Avenue East at Alder Street 
  • Marion Street between 1st and 2nd Avenue
  • Northeast 50th Street at University Way Northeast
  • East Marginal Way South at South Michigan Street
  • 6th Avenue at Madison Street

Drivers seem to be following the advice from state and local transportation officials advice to stay home and off the roads until plow operators can do their work, and cars left abandoned can be cleared. The Seattle Times reports:

DOT's real-time traffic maps showed a rare sight for the normal morning rush hours: green-colored, or "wide-open" freeways throughout almost the entire Seattle area. On Monday night, the maps were largely black as traffic ground to an excruciating, hours-long halt.

The city opened two additional 'warming' centers, as temperatures are expected to remain well below freezing today. Those locations are the Seattle Center House, at the Seattle Center, and the Family & Adult Services Center (FASC) at 2015 3rd Avenue.