Few lose power, but ice and snow delay school openings by two hours

A cold front hit the area Friday night leaving snow, ice and plunging temperatures in its wake.

Snow accumulations on the Plateau ranged from trace amounts to nearly three inches. Winds gusts of 25 to 30 mph made the 25 degree temperatures feel considerably colder.

Bonney Lake Public Works Director Dan Grigsby said crews began sanding the roads Friday night and worked through the weekend.

“They are out now (Monday)working on the intersections and steep slopes,” Grigsby said. “After the major arterials are scraped we work on the intersections and steep slopes.”

Sumner Public Works sanded the Sumner-Tapps Highway, but the city was in pretty good shape Monday according to city officials.

Pierce County road crews were out beginning Friday and worked through the weekend. According to official reports a full crew and equipment including 26 plows, seven anti-icer trucks, three graders, six loader operators and mechanics at the dispatch locations worked on Pierce County roads until midnight Sunday.

The Sumner, White River and Enumclaw school districts were running two hours late because of the icy conditions Monday.

Puget Sound Energy reported a few power outages in the Enumclaw, but no major problems were reported in the Bonney Lake and Sumner areas.

East Pierce Fire and Rescue Assistant Chief Dave Wakefield said residents appeared to have been cautious and, for the most part, stayed home.

Of the emergency calls received by East Pierce over the weekend, more than half were for medical emergencies. Wakefield said firefighters responded to three motor vehicle collisions, but there were no serious injuries reported.

A large tree fell across state Route 410 on Elhi Hill closing the highway for a time on Friday. A downed tree that fell into power lines kept Puget Sound Energy crews busy Sunday afternoon on 214th Avenue.

“Despite the downed trees, there were no power outages in the Bonney Lake, Lake Tapps and Sumner area that we know of,” Wakefield said. “Luckily, there were no fires.”

East Pierce firefighters responded to a mutual aid call in Orting for a residential fire around 3 a.m. Monday.

The weather forecast for the week calls for more snow and cold temperatures through the weekend.

Reach Dennis Box at dbox@courierherald.com or 360-802-8209.