Snow, Ice and Excessive Cold

Power outages usually occur as secondary incidents to other events like electrical vault fires and windstorms. Power lines are underground in the downtown core and other dense areas. They are more vulnerable to vault fires but extremely resistant to wind damage. In the rest of the city the situation is reversed. Wind damage is linked the number of trees close to wires.

Major Incidents

Issues to Note

Power outages are a great concern in snow storms because of the accompanying cold. Fortunately, it is rare to get high winds and snow in the same storm, but it can happen as it did in 1950. The homeless are always at risk in the cold. The City regularly opens cold weather shelters and conducts patrols to encourage people to use them.

Heavy snowfall can damage buildings. Over 80 roofs collapsed or suffered extensive damage during the 1996 snow storm. Extended cold weather caused damage to water pipes, including large transmission lines.

Snow can disrupt the economy. The 1996 storm is estimated to have cost businesses $65 million in lost sales and missed shipments. Many workers do not get paid for snow stoppages.

Because snowfall does not occur frequently in Seattle, the Department of Transportation does not keep dedicated snow removal equipment. Usually, snow can be predicted accurately, giving the City time to outfit dual use equipment.

On the Web

How to Prepare for Winter Storms (pdf). Information from the City of Seattle, King County and Washington State.

Winter Response Plan. The Human Services Department Winter Response explains what the City does to help homeless or at-risk people during cold weather.

Winter Storm Information from the Seattle Department of Tranportation

When the Power goes out. Information from Seattle City Light.

National Weather Service - Seattle Office. Good for forecasts and historical records.