To the delight of schoolchildren and the consternation of commuters, Puget Sound residents woke up this morning to a surprise coating of snow.
Air cooled off more than expected last night, weather forecasters said, accounting for the blanket of wet, heavy snow that some areas experienced.
The appearance of snow was fleeting however, as rain and warming temperatures melted most of the snow within several hours of the early morning blanketing.
The South Sound – particularly from Tacoma southward – was coated with several inches of the white stuff in the early morning.
Areas like University Place, Steilacoom and DuPont were hit with trace amounts up to 2 inches of snow, while Olympia reported 3 inches.
South of DuPont, a number of trucks on Interstate 5 pulled into a way station when driving conditions became too hazardous. Trucks started moving again as the snow turned to rain.
Traffic on I-5 was slower than usual, with reduced visibility and snow-slicked roads. Some weather-related accidents were also slowing traffic.
The unexpected snowfall seemed to have the most effect in the South Sound, where several schools from about Olympia south were operating on delayed schedules. A few school closures were reported as well.
Another storm system is heading for the Pacific Northwest and is expected to bring heavy rains and some gusty winds to most of Western Washington today.