Video: Spring snow hits the South Sound

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SEATTLE - Overnight snow turned into ice on Puget Sound roads early Thursday, delaying classes for several school districts and causing numerous accidents for commuters, especially in the South Sound.

While driving conditions appeared to be normal in King and Snohomish counties, icy conditions were causing a mess in south King and Pierce counties. Some 13 accidents around the South Sound caused headaches for drivers. At least five were reported on Interstate 5 in Federal Way, where northbound traffic was backed up all the way to Tacoma.

One woman, 61, driving on eastbound Highway 18 in Auburn lost control of her car and slammed into a state trooper's patrol car. She was killed on impact, while the trooper, who was away from his car, was uninjured. All eastbound lanes of Highway 18 at Auburn-Black Diamond Road were closed during the crash investigation; the highway was expected to reopen shortly before 8:30 a.m.

About two to three inches of snow fell Wednesday evening in the South Sound, with a light dusting early Thursday. More is expected in the coming days.

"There's going to be more widespread snow tomorrow morning," said KING 5 Meteorologist Rich Marriott. "Today we have, which may be even more treacherous, a lot of black ice out there on the roadways."

For Thursday, Marriott says snow levels will drop to 500-1,000 feet, giving the area a mix of rain or snow showers. A trace to two inches of slushy snow accumulations is expected.

Overnight Thursday, a new weather system will move into Western Washington, bringing more moisture our way while temperatures remain frigid, said Marriott. The system will bring snow out to the Washington coast probably after midnight and move into southwest Washington, south Puget Sound and the Kitsap Peninsula around 5 a.m. Friday.

KING / Courtesy Linda Garner

KING 5 viewer Linda Garner took this photo of snow in her backyard in Tenino, Wash.

"We'll see chance of some locally heavy snow in parts of Hood Canal, the southern Kitsap Peninsula, and scattered snow during the morning commute Friday," said Marriott. "Maybe with the snow around, it won't be quite as slippery as the ice we're seeing today."

Cool, showery air will remain over the Pacific Northwest for the next few days, so we'll see a mix of cold rain and some wet snow showers in the lowlands of Western Washington and Oregon. Those showers will gradually diminish as we head into Saturday, said Marriott, but Saturday and Sunday morning could still be a little icy.

The mountains could see up to 8 inches of snow, and blowing and drifting snow could make visibility poor at times.

Marriott said there is light at the end of the snowy tunnel.

"The good news is that it ends late in the weekend and turns sunny and warmer for the opening day of baseball season at Safeco Field," said Marriott.

Rain should return by the middle of next week, but it will feel more like spring rain with highs staying in the 50s.

Eastern Washington

A winter storm warning is in effect until 11 a.m. Thursday, mainly above 2000 feet, with 3 to 5 inches of snowfall on average will occur overnight and Thursday morning, and accumulations of 7 inches possible in some areas.

Gusty winds will produce local blowing snow and low visibility.

Protecting your plants

The snow may be causing some worry for those who just put big bucks into their landscaping, but there are precautions you can take.

Doug Berard, who is in charge of Home Depot plant buying for all of the Puget Sound area, says to protect perennials and annuals, cover them with a clear polyethylene sheet.

"That serves the purpose to keep chill off," he said.

For shrubs and bushes, Berard says use mulch and, believe it or not, lots of water.