Originally published Sunday, December 14, 2008 at 12:00 AM

Below-freezing temperatures expected to continue

The National Weather Service predicts freezing temperatures through next weekend and for snow to resume falling late Tuesday and Wednesday.

By Karen Gaudette and Nicole Tsong

Seattle Times staff reporters

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STEVE RINGMAN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Allen Christie of Issaquah clears an inch of snow off the field lines before the start of a preseason girls soccer tournament at Skyline High School. Wind combined with the cold weather made soccer a cold weather sport. Parents were bundled on the sidelines watching their kids.

STEVE RINGMAN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Chuck Folsom of Lake Tapps bundles up against the cold wind as he and his wife, Marla watch their daughter playing in a preseason soccer tournament at Skyline High School.

KEVIN FUJII / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Miguel Gonzalez, left, packs down snow while Zelis Velez laughs at a photo she just made of him in the snow at Cascade Park Sunday morning, Dec. 13, 2008, in Seattle. This is the second time they have witnessed snow falling after having recently moved from Puerto Rico a year and a half ago.

Reader reports

Tell us what conditions are like in your neighborhood.

Submit photos.

Please list the time and location where photos were taken so we can add them to the map.

Snow's not all bad: Ski areas are opening

Stevens Pass will operate four lifts today, and the Summit West base area at Snoqualmie will open Friday. Hours will be limited to 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at both passes. Check out conditions at area slopes

Resources

Check school delays, closures

WSDOT | Traffic alerts

Twitter | WSDOT updates

National Weather Service | Washington forecast

Meteorologist Cliff Mass' blog

Five-day forecast

King County | Road alerts

King County | Power outage tips

Winter driving tips

How to install tire chains:

5 reasons drivers here flake out in the snow

WSDOT | Snow removal, driving tips (PDF)

Videos

KING5 | Drivers running into problems on icy side roads

KING5 | Raw: School bus slides down Bellevue hill

YouTube | Seattle Skid Row

YouTube | Portland Ice Storm

Prevent carbon-monoxide poisoning

Warning devices may provide additional protection, but should not replace the following prevention steps:

• Never burn charcoal inside homes, vehicles or garages.

• Do not burn charcoal in the fireplace in your home.

• Never use gasoline-powered equipment indoors.

• Never use a gas oven to heat your home, even for a short time.

• Never idle a car in a garage, even when the garage door is open.

• Never sleep in a room while using an unvented gas or kerosene heater.

• Make sure chimneys and flues are in good condition and are not blocked.

• Have fireplaces, wood stoves and oil or gas appliances checked every year by a professional.

Source: Public Health — Seattle & King County
Click here for carbon monoxide warnings in six languages (PDF).

Nickelsville copes with cold weather

About 100 people find a shelter and protection from the elements at Nickelsville, a homeless encampment located at the University Congregational United Church of Christ in University District.

Don't put away the ice scraper yet — if you can find one.

The National Weather Service predicts freezing temperatures through next weekend and for snow to resume falling late Tuesday and Wednesday — music to the ears of winter sports fanatics, anathema to beleaguered retailers counting on a final Christmas rush.

Saturday night's initial snowfall sent Puget Sound-area children scurrying for sledding hills beneath blue skies today. West Seattle, King County's rural regions and Snohomish County bore the brunt of snow-and-ice related accidents and road closures. But for the most part, we had it easy: So bad was the snow and ice in Portland, transportation officials required chains on all metro highways and briefly shut down Interstate 5.

The forecast

Prepare for what could become the coldest spell in nearly two decades, according to the National Weather Service. Monday should be mostly sunny with highs around 30 and lows down to the teens. Tuesday expect sun, highs in the 30s and lows in the 20s with a chance of snow. Snow should fall Wednesday, with highs in the lower 30s. Check www.wrh.noaa.gov/seattle for the latest forecast.

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Comments

Well, you can certainly count the record cold days in a single specific location as a single data point. But again, it's as meaningless as a... Posted on December 14, 2008 at 10:45 AM by billt721. Jump to comment

Earth to the media, its calledb] WINTER[ Report the news, stop trying to make it! Boring Posted on December 14, 2008 at 9:25 AM by 1ballard. Jump to comment

Man this Global Warming is getting on my nerves!!! Posted on December 14, 2008 at 2:20 AM by Leftie Specialist. Jump to comment

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