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FOLLOW THURSDAY’s STORM TRACKER

The snow is falling around much of the Puget Sound region and forecasters say it’s expected to continue through the morning.

MyNorthwest.com will be tracking the latest developments in the storm including all the twists and turns from forecasters, transportation departments and public safety officials. Check back here for frequent updates and listen to 97.3 ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ FM for the latest news.

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7:47 p.m. Get the latest weather update here.

7:14 p.m. Do you live in Olympia or areas south? You could see another round of snow tomorrow, but the Seattle-Tacoma area won’t be effected, according to .

7:05 p.m. The National Weather Service has put a Winter Weather Advisory in effect for much of the lowlands. Find out the latest advisories for .

7:00 p.m. A collision is blocking the off ramp to Austin Rd. on northbound SR 3 near milepost 39.

6:57 p.m. Whoah! Now up to 109 school closings and alerts! Check for your school here.

6:38 p.m. Earlier today 97.3 ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ FM’s Dori Monson sledded down a hill on a shovel (video coming soon.) But apparently you shouldn’t try to slide down a hill in a plastic boat.

6:35 p.m. Traffic reporter Kimi Kline says that as these roads turn to ice, try your best to avoid hills – your cars will have a harder time climbing them!

6:31 p.m. You can see snow on the roads … but hardly anyone is driving on them as the “rush hour” winds down.

6:20 p.m. Heading out on the I-405 northbound? Watch out! There is a disabled vehicle blocking the HOV direct access off-ramp to NE 128th St near milepost 20.

6:17 p.m. On I-5 southbound just south of Broadway, near milepost 192, there is a collision blocking the right lane. WSDOT says the Incident Response Team has arrived on the scene.

6:13 p.m. Reports of freezing rain out in West Seattle (via )

6:10 p.m. Number of school closings and alerts in Western Washington? We’re up to 87! See if you or your kids get to stay home from school tomorrow here.

6:06 p.m. Traffic reporter Kimi Kline says lots of folks on the road tonight are spinning out from going too fast. She also described the conditions going over the pass as “treacherous.” Be careful!

5:49 p.m. Two down trees are causing traffic problems, one on highway 2 near Skykomish and the other is blocking westbound 18 near Auburn-Black Diamond.

5:44 p.m. The temperature in Federal Way is 31 degrees. The temperature in Everett is 27 degrees. The temperature in Bellevue is 30 degrees. Freezing temps make for icy roads. Don’t forget, WSDOT suggests you slow down if you’re on the road.

5:40 p.m. Just this morning, Washington State Patrol responded to 726 accidents on Washington roads. So what do you do if you get in a snow-related fender bender? Here is what you should do if you’re in a snow related accident.

5:36 p.m. Reports of a snow slide over Snoqualmie, according to Kimi Kline. Two lanes blocked, not sure in which direction, but traction tires are required.

Listen to Ring My Belle: A Baby Is Born in a Tacoma Elevator!

5:23 p.m. We’ve had so many wonderful snow photo submissions, we’ve had to start a new gallery! See the new photos here. You can see the rest of the snow photos here. AND if you want to submit your photos, send them on over here!

5:11 p.m. Rachel Belle talked to the father of the baby born in an elevator during the winter storm! Read more here.

4:59 p.m. Snoqualmie Pass has been reopened.

4:57 p.m. Seattle garbage pickup is now operating on a one-day delay. Not sure about your pickup? They say to visit the for more information.

4:44 p.m. Southbound I-5 is full of trouble spots according to traffic reporter Kimi Kline. Check traffic cameras before hitting the road this afternoon to make sure you’re not affected.

4:40 p.m. Seattle Public Schools has canceled school and after school activities for Thursday. Get all of your school closure updates here.

Listen to Lisa Van Cise updates the snow forecast for R&D

4:10 p.m. KING 5’s Lisa Van Cise told 97.3 ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ FM’s Ron & Don Show that if you’re thinking about commuting to work tomorrow morning – DON’T! The snow will have stopped but meteorologists say the ice will still make the roads difficult.

4:08 We’ve added a few new snow videos our Seattle snow video page. .

4:04 p.m. Because of the storms, the search for four missing hikers and campers on Mount Rainier has been put on hold. Read more here.

4:00 p.m. Avalanche control shuts down eastbound I-90

3:41 p.m. ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ traffic reporter Kimi Kline says some areas on the major roadways are rough: Spinouts on I-5 near SouthCenter, I-90 near North Bend and on the bridge, and I-5 near the U-District. Drive safe!

3:26 p.m. So will there be school tomorrow? Take a 50-50 guess before you check our school closings list

3:11 p.m. WSDOT says an earlier collision involving vehicle and semi-truck on SB-5 in Everett has been cleared. All lanes are open! Here’s a photo from Washington State Patrol….injuries, but nothing life-threatening.

3:07 p.m. Lots of sledding and skiing happening on Seattle’s Queen Anne Ave. this afternoon, as spotted on KING-5’s coverage.

2:55 p.m. Here comes the freeze; Drive Safe! Ted Buehner with the National Weather Service says the afternoon commute, Wednesday night, and the Thursday morning commute are going to be very icy as temperatures drop to freezing or below-freezing.

2:37 p.m. Here are the snow totals, according to Jeff Renner and Lisa Van Cise at KING-5: Lake Stevens 9″, Stanwood 8.7″, Lynnwood 5.5″, Kent 9.8″, Federal Way 5.5″, Woodinville 5″ Issaquah 4.3″, Sea-Tac 4.2″, Shoreline 3″, Bellevue 2″, Seattle 2″, Orting 8″, Tacoma 7.5″, Puyallup 6″, Parkland 4.8″

2:34 p.m. ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ engineer says it’s raining on Eastlake Ave. in Seattle. “It’s going to get slippery!”

2:31 p.m. “Tomorrow is the time to get that snow off those flat roofs,” Ted Buehner with the National Weather Service tells Dori. He says when it starts to warm up and rain, that snow will act like a sponge and soak up all that rain, dramatically increasing the weight. Remember the Edmonds marina collapse of 1996?

2:22 p.m. From Lisa Van Cise in the KING-5 Weather Center: High wind warning until 4pm W. Whatcom county. Gusts near 60mph possible. Wind chill in Bellingham is 3 degrees right now.

2:12 p.m. Heavy snow has cracked the ceiling at the PLU swimming pool building, according to AP Better get out there and knock all the snow off your metal sheds and carports before it rains!

2:04 p.m. WSDOT tells Dori the I-5 express lanes will operate on a normal schedule for afternoon and tomorrow AM commutes.

1:54 p.m. Rachel Belle made it into work today, but not without some anxiety. She drove down the middle of Westlake, but everyone is ok. Read more

1:43 p.m. Reporter Tim Haeck snapped this photo: Car in ditch along Forbes Creek Drive in Kirkland.

1:20 p.m. @wsdot tweets: As the snow concern dwindles, freezing rain and an ice concern becomes very real. #wasnow #onemoreday

1:02 p.m. Animals enjoy the snow at Woodland Park Zoo.

See more photos of zoo animals in the snow at the .

12:50 p.m. Traffic alert – @wsdot_traffic tweets: On I-90 eastbound just east of I-405 there is a disabled vehicle blocking the center lane.

12:45 p.m. 97.3 ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ FM reporter Brandi Kruse captures meeting of the safe-travel minds with Washington State Patrol Trooper conferring with WSDOT worker at scene of stranded taxi.

Brandi is riding along with Washington State Patrol Trooper Cliff Pratt today. Follow her live tweets from the road .

12:32 p.m. Stolen Everett snow plow found. Read full report from 97.3 ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ FM’s Josh Kerns.

12:20 p.m. Snow depth update from the National Weather Service:

Seattle: 2 to 5 inches

Tacoma: 6 to 9 inches

Olympia: 13 inches (record is 14.2 inches in 24 hours)

News Chick Linda Thomas posted a blog with more area snow depth totals from The Weather Channel.

12:12 p.m. Washington State Patrol Trooper Guy Gill says troopers have been to 736 collisions in the last 24 hours. He says during the same 24 hour period last year they responded to 83 collisions.

11:57 a.m. The Seattle Channel provides winter storm tips from Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn. .

11:47 a.m. Travel tip: How to get a taxi in the snow. 97.3 ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ FM’s Ross and Burbank Show talks to a taxi dispatcher about how to get a ride from a cab in extreme winter weather situations.

11:42 a.m. Washington State Patrol Trooper Guy Gill says there have been over 150 accidents in Pierce and Thurston counties since last night.

Gill says roads are still treacherous, even I-5. He urges people on the road to be patient because it could take a while to get where you’re going.

WSDOT webcam check in Bellevue and near Shoreline.

Check LIVE TRAFFIC CAMS before you drive.

11:27 a.m. For bike travelers, SeattlePI.com has posted instructions for using tools you likely have at home.

11:12 a.m. Tacoma Solid Waste Management says there will not be garbage, recycling or yard waste collection on Wednesday.

11:09 a.m. KING 5 meteorologist Jim Guy tells 97.3 ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ FM’s Ross and Burbank Show that snow showers are tapering off.

“What you see out there now is probably going to be it,” says Guy.

11:01 a.m. News Chick Linda Thomas posts “Snow highlights from Twitter, Facebook”

(Seattle Art Zone’s Nancy Guppy enjoys the snow)

10:52 a.m. Washington State Trooper Guy Gill tells KING 5 there have been 728 accidents across the state in last 24 hours.

10:46 a.m. 97.3 ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ FM reporter Brandi Kruse is riding along with Washington State Patrol Trooper Cliff Pratt. Follow Brandi and Cliff’s adventures through her live tweets .

10:40 a.m. Tanya Amberson sent in a photo of her root cellar covered in more than a foot of snow in Arlington.

See the full gallery of snow photos sent in by MyNorthwest.com readers. Submit your snow photos.

10:36 a.m. ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ 7 meteorologist Sam Argier (@samargier) tweets: Sea-Tac Airport snow total keeps growing. Latest update at 4 inches. #WAsnow

Follow the latest snow news on twitter with the hash tag . Here are some recent #wasnow gems:

@wspd1pio If you spin out, go in the ditch, or get stuck on the road please STAY IN YOUR VEHICLE! Other cars might be coming right behind you. #wasnow

@PCC Yes! All PCC store locations are open during #WaSnow Everyone is welcome @PCC Natural Markets! #SeaSnow

10:26 a.m. @SeattleMet tweets: #seasnow be damned, plenty of restaurants and bars are open for business

10:24 a.m. 97.3 ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ FM reporter Chris Sullivan says in his 17 years living in Seattle, he’s never seen the freeways like this.

“It feels like I’m going over I-90 pass,” says Sullivan of I-5 from Seattle to Tacoma. “Just a nasty day on the freeways.”

10:12 a.m. KING 5 Meteorologist Jim Guy says 11 inches of new snow has fallen in Shelton, 4.2 inches in Port Townsend, 7 inches in Puyallup, and nearly 3 inches on the weather deck at KING-5 in Seattle.

10:08 a.m. Dave Ross invents the wine glass measuring system! See the photos

10:03 a.m. Still a lot of snow and ice at I-405 and 520 interchange!

9:56 a.m. The WSDOT is closing the I-5 and I-90 express lanes at about 10am so they can plow and reverse them. They will reopen after 11am.

9:49 a.m. The meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service office in Seattle, Brad Colman, said Olympia could break the record of 14 inches of snow in a 24-hour period, the AP reports .

9:39 a.m. 97.3 ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ FM reporter Chris Sullivan reports there are near white-out conditions in Federal Way.

“Conditions out here still very treacherous,” says Sullivan.

LIVE webcam view of I-5 near Federal Way.

Check LIVE TRAFFIC WEBCAMS before you hit the road.

9:28 a.m. Associated Press reports “95 accidents in an eight-hour period in Pierce and Thurston counties.”

9:14 a.m. Dave Ross and KING 5 meteorologist Jim Guy have conflicting radar images. Listen to Ross and Burbank on 97.3 ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ FM.

Read Dave Ross Commentary: Snowmaggedon! Thank you mainstream media

9:07 a.m. @woodlandparkzoo: Zoo is closed today due to the snow. The animals are doing well–keeping warm and playing with the snow. Be safe out there!

9:05 a.m. Joseph Steketee sent in this photo from nearby Fort Lewis.

See the full photo gallery of snow photos submitted by MyNorthwest.com readers. Submit your Northwest snow photos.

9:01 a.m. @KimiKline: Just watched a car slide into the Azteca parking lot avoid a pedestrian taking pictures in the road. Be on guard!

8:58 a.m. 97.3 ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ FM Seattle’s Morning News reports more than a foot of snow has fallen south of Olympia.

8:47 a.m. up to 4 inches of snow has fallen in Seattle.

8:43 a.m. @kcnews tweets: Have questions for @kcmetrobus? Call 206-553-3000 5am-10pm. Expect transit delays/cancellations. Best advice? Stay home today. #wasnow

For bus riders: , ,

8:36 a.m. @wsdot_tacoma tweets: Oh Sno! Seeing more and more blocking incidents in Pierce County! #WaSnow

8:36 a.m. KING 5 meterologist Jim Guy says snow showers will be tapering off around noon, but we’re not going to see showers change over to rain until tomorrow.

8:28 a.m. The National Weather Service reports snow is falling at about an inch or two per hour.

8:10 a.m. 97.3 ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ FM reporter Chris Sullivan reports from Tacoma.

“Conditions on I-5 are just ridiculous in terms of treacherous,” says Sullivan. “Multiple spinouts on both sides of the freeway north and southbound.”

Live shot of conditions on I-5 near Tacoma.

8:03 a.m. Learning to snowboard in Snohomish – Sent in by Kelly Baerwaldt.

See the full photo gallery of snow photos submitted by MyNorthwest.com users. Submit your snow photos.

7:52 a.m. Chris Olsen with the Washington State Department of Trasnportation tells Seattle’s Morning News that drivers should think long and hard before they venture out.

7:49 a.m. 97.3 ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ FM traffic reporter Kimi Kline says “A lot of people are going a little too fast for the road conditions and they’re ending up in the ditch.”

Check road conditions before you go on LIVE TRAFFIC CAMS.

7:35 a.m. Keep up with the latest snow news on twitter with the hash tag #wasnow . A few recent tweets:

@CityofSeattle RT @SEACityLight: Heavy snows can weigh down branches and bring them into contact with power lines, causing outages. Be prepared. #wasnow

@wspd1pio We have 20 collisions right now in Thurston and Pierce Co’s spread out over I-5 and our State Routes. #wasnow

7:29 a.m. @PaulDeannoKOMO tweets: Most of W. Washington has hit… or is at right now.. the peak of snow coverage & intensity… The peak is now.

7:21 a.m. Amtrak Seattle service to Vancouver B.C. not running.

7:19 a.m. Washington State Trooper Guy Gill tells KING 5 that drivers that have to go out today should be aware they’re heading into “extremely poor” conditions.

7:04 a.m. Report: 2,800 people without power in Ocean Shores.

6:52 a.m. @wsdot_traffic tweets: “Don’t get yourself in a jam like this one.”

6:45 a.m. If you’re driving in Seattle check the . The city will be focusing on keeping these routes clear for drivers.

6:37 a.m 97.3 ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ FM traffic reporter Kimi Kline says roads are “extremely challenging” and it is “white everywhere.”

Check your route on LIVE TRAFFIC CAMS before you drive.

Here is the view of I-5 in Shoreline and near Boeing Field

6:34 a.m. Garbage, yard waste and recycling collection has been delayed in Seattle for Wednesday. Today’s missed customers should set out their materials tomorrow.

6:25 a.m. Snow has blanketed the whole Western Washington region. Tacoma already has more than 3 inches and it’s still snowing. Olympia is also socked in and it’s really coming down in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood. KING-5’s Jim Guy says it’s 13 degrees in Bellingham and only 11 in Blaine. Temperatures are in the low 20s in most other areas.

6:19 a.m. We love posting your photos of kids and pets playing in the snow! Send us your best shots of snowmen….and women. This one was taken by Dana. Check out more photos!

6:12 a.m. Here’s a photo of Tacoma from WSDOT. WSDOT’s Chris Olsen describes what’s happening on I-5. She says there’s a lot of compact snow and ice, so it’s a good idea to slow down. Listen to her interview

6:08 a.m. If you haven’t checked yet, here’s a full list of school closings.

6:05 a.m. King County Council offices closed Wed.

5:59 a.m. Reporter Chris Sullivan is driving around Tacoma. He says it’s heavy in Federal Way and in spots around the Tacoma Dome, where a handful of cars are in the ditch. Listen to Chris

5:53 a.m. The storm is rolling through. The National Weather Service is forecasting 4 to 8 inches in the Seattle area, 5 to 10 inches south of Seattle in the Tacoma area, and 3 to 5 inches along the coast and in the northern regions of the Puget Sound.

5:49 a.m. The plows are out, but it looks like it’s sticking to parts of I-5 in the Northend.

5:45 a.m. KING-5 meteorologist Rich Marriott says things will begin improving by about 9:00 a.m.

5:30 a.m. It appears this will be mostly a south Sound event, according to the King-5 weather center.

5:07 a.m.Tweet from ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Reporter Chris Sullivan: Good luck finding a lane on I-5. Too much snow. Drivers picking their own paths. 3″ in Tacoma.