Friday was a snow day for many schools in Lewis County, but unfortunately for the kids who got the day off, conditions were hardly safe for outdoor activities.
The temperatures forecast for Southwest Washington Thursday night through Sunday afternoon are far enough below freezing for the National Weather Service to classify it as “extreme cold” and advise residents to be mindful of the increased risk of frostbite and hypothermia.
Factoring minimum anticipated wind chill, the National Weather Service forecasts temperatures in the Twin Cities to drop to as low as 5 to 6 degrees fahrenheit Friday and Saturday night, rising only to 10 to
15 degrees during the day. It should start warming up outside Sunday afternoon, when the National Weather Service forecasts the temperature with wind chill to reach 24 degrees.
While there is a slight chance for snow in the lowlands during the cold front, East Lewis County faces a potential 8 to 12 inches of snow accumulation before conditions truly start to warm up next week, according to the National Weather Service.
U.S. Highway 12 between milepost 138 east of Packwood and milepost 151 at the summit of White Pass was closed to all traffic on Friday due to high winds and debris on the roadway. There was no estimated time for reopening as of Friday afternoon, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.
The Lewis County Public Utility District has had multiple weather-related power outages since winter conditions hit Tuesday. The outage peak was at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 10, when over 13,000 customers were without power, according to PUD Public Information Officer Daniel Hargrove.
As of 11:25 a.m. on Friday, 462 PUD customers in the area of Little Hanaford Road and Big Hanaford Road were without power.
“Hopefully we can get that restored quickly and safely,” Hargrove told The Chronicle just before noon on Friday.
PUD staff have appreciated the “overwhelming support” they’ve received from customers on throughout the outages this week
“Everyone just showed overwhelming support, patience and appreciation,” Hargrove said Friday, expressing gratitude on behalf of the PUD.
To access the map of known outages, visit https://www.lcpud.org/outages-safety/power-outages/.
The PUD asks anyone experiencing an outage to call the PUD at 800-562-5612 or 360-748-9261, or report the outage on the SmartHub app.
During extreme cold conditions, the National Weather Service advises people to limit outdoor activity as much as possible for themselves and any pets. If you do go outside, people are advised to wear several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing instead of a single heavy layer, and to ensure the outermost layer is water-repellent.
The National Weather Service also reminds people to follow recommended safety precautions for their heaters, stoves and fireplaces, and to keep a fire extinguisher on-hand.
The Salvation Army of Centralia, located at 115 N. Gold Street, has set up a 24-hour warming shelter that will remain open Friday, Jan. 12 through Sunday, Jan. 14. Check-in is between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Expanded services may be added as the weather changes, according to the Salvation Army.
For updated weather forecasts, visit https://www.weather.gov/sew/.
For updates on local conditions and available resources, visit Lewis County Emergency Management’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100072464765616.
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To provide photos or video of the snow with The Chronicle’s newsroom, email news@chronline.com. Call 360-736-3311 for additional information.
