Snow blankets Puget Sound area again

Unexpected snow showers Wednesday night forced the closure of state Route 169 between Maple Valley and Enumclaw and snarled traffic elsewhere around Puget Sound.

State Department of Transportation crews shut down a mile-long stretch of the South King County highway as 2 to 3 inches of snow fell in the area, said Sarah Thomas, a spokeswoman for the agency. The road remained closed at 8 p.m. as snow removal equipment had yet to arrive in the area.

There were numerous spinouts in the area but no serious injuries, said Trooper Curt Boyle of the State Patrol.

National Weather Service meteorologists expect the snow showers to continue through the end of the week at elevations above 500 feet, according to an agency statement.

Snow could build at higher elevations in coming days. No accumulations are expected at lower elevations.

Snow was falling in Seattle, too, but it was not sticking.