Snow misses Seattle, but watch out later this week

In Kitsap County, Bellingham and the higher hills, residents woke to white yards, streets and sidewalks, "but here in the lowlands, it just didn't pan out," said Ted Buehner, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Seattle.

NOTE: This article has been updated since it was originally published in the newspaper.

While snow did fall in some places last night, Buehner said, it turned to rain much earlier in the morning than meteorologists expected.

Don't let your guard down, though.

Buehner said snow may yet hit Seattle and stick at least through the morning commute on Thursday and over the weekend.

"Stay tuned and stay prepared," he said. "Don't let this one event lead you to think that nothing will happen. This is a dress rehearsal."

In preparation for last night's cold weather, local volunteers loaded up a van to take some measure of relief to the homeless.

"We find people sleeping in cars, we find people sleeping in plastic, people sleeping in cardboard boxes, or people that aren't sleeping under anything and don't have a coat," said Sharon Thomas-Hearns, spokeswoman for Seattle's Union Gospel Mission.

On nights when the mercury retreats to freezing temperatures, the volunteers and workers take blankets, clothing and hot chocolate to those camped out in the cold. The group distributes 8,000 blankets a year.

The mission's van cruises the Alaskan Way Viaduct, Interstate 5 overpasses, the waterfront and Kinnear Park on Queen Anne with supplies and offers to take people back to the shelter.

Of the 50 to 100 people a night found by those manning the van, most opt to stay where they are -- possibly a fatal decision. On Thanksgiving, the body of a woman believed to be homeless was found in a small trash fire on Alaskan Way South, Seattle police said.

"Many feel they can brave the elements," Thomas-Hearns said.

In anticipation of last night's pridiction of 1 to 2 inches of snow locally, the Seattle Department of Transportation had a crew of six out patrolling the streets Monday night looking for icy spots. Twenty more workers were on call for spreading sand and de-icer on the city's roadways.

Elevated roads -- bridges such as the viaduct and West Seattle Bridge -- are most vulnerable to getting icy. If the snow sticks until morning, crews will also be deployed to arterials used by commuters coming into the city, such as Rainier Avenue South and Lake City Way.

Road closure signs are already positioned at the tops of steep hills, ready for police to close roads as needed. Then crews with the transportation department are called out to sand the streets where possible, said spokeswoman Marybeth Turner.

"Drive carefully because you don't know where there will be ice or slick conditions," Turner warned. "Allow plenty of space between the car in front of you.

"We encourage people to take mass transit if they can."