If you’re trekking around the hill today or have caught a glimpse out the nearest window, odds are you’ve noticed that it’s snowing here in Queen Anne. Though the temperature’s a bit too high for anything to stick (at 37 degrees as of 3:30 this afternoon), we’re seeing a pretty substantial mix of snow and rainfall in the neighborhood.

While no accumulation is expected for today’s snow showers, forecasters are looking ahead to Tuesday night and Wednesday, where a significant snow event could be in play.

As is typical here in Seattle, the forecast keeps shifting. At first, UW meteorologist Cliff Mass suggested it could be a historic snow event. Then he backed off as forecasts showed it heading north, perhaps into Vancouver. Now the Weather Service says the model has it shifting a little more south, which could bring 4 inches or more in the Seattle area. “It’s still way too early to know what scenario will play out,” says the Weather Service.

At this point we’re not sure what the snow-cast will look like this week on the hill, but if November’s snowfall is any indication, it might be a good idea to pick up a pair of chains for traversing Queen Anne’s slopes in advance—we don’t want a repeat of the vehicular carnage icy streets brought to the hill last time around.

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is preparing for the possibility of snow and ice on city streets again tomorrow. The forecast, which outlines temperatures just above freezing overnight tonight, could bring up to one-half inch of wet snow and the possibility of an additional inch of snow Wednesday morning.

Seattle skyline/view from Kerry Park under cover of snow, November 22, 2010.

The city is taking extra precautions so as not to have a repeat last month’s snowpocalypse, which left many city streets icy and dangerous.

After 10 p.m. tonight SDOT crews will proactively apply salt brine in roadway areas where frost or black ice is prone to develop, especially on bridges and other elevated structures around the city.

Starting at 4 a.m. tomorrow morning (Wednesday), SDOT spreader trucks will be prepositioned throughout the city, ready to spread rock salt on major arterial streets (primary snow routes, Levels 1 and 2) for the morning commute if conditions warrant.

SDOT’s snow plan calls for plowing when there is more than one inch of snow accumulated on roadways, which is not part of the forecast at this time.

Despite the potential for snow, University of Washington atmospheric scientist Cliff Mass says the likelihood that we’ll see a repeat of the snow and severe ice that blasted us on Thanksgiving week is low. He writes on his blog:

This is a VERY, VERY different situation than November 22nd. You will not see a powerful arctic blast associated with strong high pressure in British Columbia and a major coastal low over SW Washington. Temperatures will be far more marginal. Far less icing potential. But there COULD be some interesting wrinkles….like a chance for Puget Sound Convergence Zone snow.

Cliff estimates that “where precipitation is heavy enough, some snow showers could reach the surface, but nothing substantial.”

If the Convergence Zone is stronger than forecast then more snow could hit the Puget Sound lowlands. However, forecast temperatures are predicted to peak near 40F on Wednesday. This looks marginal to me…only heavy precipitation and the cooling associated with it…something that is not predicted… could bring several inches of snow to Seattle.

We will continue to monitor the evolution of this event, but right now it does not look serious event near sea level. Eastern suburbs could get few inches. Not an icing situation during the day…

Read more on SDOT’s winter weather response plan and to view a map of snow routes here.

Elementary students and those in K-8 schools will not have to make up last week’s two snow days, while high school students will have to attend classes for two extra days next summer, the district announced today.

The decision was made that no make-up days are needed for the younger students because “students were not scheduled to be in classes those two days – instead, parent-teacher conferences were planned for those days.” Those conferences will be rescheduled. “Our goal is that 100% of parent-teacher conferences are completed before winter break. Schools will be scheduling a combination of Saturday, late afternoon and evening opportunities to accomplish this,” the release from the district states. “The decision about this scheduling will be agreed by the school, please watch for announcements from your principal or teacher.” The last day of school for elementary students and K-8 students will be June 21st.

Two days will be tacked onto the end of the school year for the older kids, who were scheduled to be in class. The last day of school for middle and high school students will now be June 23rd.

Update: 9:15 a.m.: Snow plows are still traveling Queen Anne hill, de-icing roads for the holiday.

Happy Thanksgiving Queen Anne! I have some exciting turkey day news to report: Late last night, while sleepily putting the finishing touches on my pumpkin pie, I heard a strange noise coming from the street. At first I thought another car had attempted to drive up Queen Anne Avenue, despite the ice, but I was pleasantly surprised to find a large SDOT snow plow backing up the Counterbalance.

And by 8 a.m. this morning, the Counterbalance was relatively clear of the icy mess that has made it so dangerous to drive on these last few days (though there are still a few stranded cars that haven’t yet been retrieved).

For those of us who thought we might just be stuck on the hill for Thanksgiving, it’s a tiny miracle, courtesy of the folks over at SDOT!

In other Thanksgiving Day news, there has already been a little snow more snow in Queen Anne today. But the 30 degree temperature is expected to get as high as 40, and bring with it some rain.

If you’re busing to your Thanksgiving meals today, Metro is running on a Sunday schedule on snow routes today, and reduced weekday service tomorrow.

Happy Thanksgiving! I’m thankful for snow plows. Let us know what you’re thankful for in the comments below.

Due to cold temperatures yesterday and overnight, much of the ice packed onto the slopes of Queen Anne has not yet had a chance to melt.

Intersection of Queen Anne Ave N and Roy St at around 8 a.m. Wednesday.

While many of the main roads in and around the neighborhood have thawed, the Counterbalance remains closed to traffic, with many cars still stuck in the ice.

With a record-breaking low temperature of 14 degrees at Sea-Tac overnight, the forecast for today calls for highs in the upper 20s to low 30s. Here are some quick notes on what this means for Queen Anne:

• Seattle Schools are closed again today. No school and no activities.
• No residential garbage, yard waste or recycling pick-ups Wednesday, November 24. If today is your collection day, you can put double the trash out next week.
• Early this morning the University of Washington decided to cancel all classes. Essential services remain open.
• Libraries will be open from noon to 5 p.m. today.
• Metro Transit is once again running on snow routes—Queen Anne-ers take note that while many buses may not be going up and down the hill, Metro does have a few snow shuttles in place to tackle the ice. Details here.

Here are updates from the Seattle Department of Transportation:

SDOT continues working to prevent freezing on snow routes:

Currently the City has 17 trucks with salt spreaders and two flusher trucks deployed.

Snow routes are in good condition.

There was no significant re-freezing of cleared roadways during the past 24 hours.

There are no significant problems on the snow route network.

The Alaskan Way Viaduct and the West Seattle High Rise Bridge are bare and dry.

Focus is on reopening closed roads. The Seattle Police Department and SDOT are working to review roads currently closed and will update the list online.

The City will continue the same level of deployed vehicles for the morning commute; focus will be on efforts to prevent re-freezing, address trouble spots on Level 3 routes, and bring more roads off the closed list.

Because of the possibility of precipitation today leading to the formation of black ice tonight, some roads will remain closed.

24 hour shifts will continue through Thursday, November 25.

Update 9:30 a.m.: Here are some more pictures of the snowy chaos, many which were submitted by neighbors around Queen Anne!

While only a few inches of snow fell on Queen Anne yesterday, it was enough to cover the Counterbalance, and many of the neighborhood’s other steep streets, in ice, and virtually prevent cars from going up and down the hill. Many of those that attempted to traverse the ice, turned the slopes into an icy, slippery bumper car arena (make sure to watch the videos).

This car was one of four in a five-car pile-up left overnight at Queen Anne Ave N and Ward St after sliding and crashing together late Monday night.

Today Queen Anne-ers wasted no time enjoying the ice before it melts off later today and tomorrow. Many neighbors have spent last night and today sledding down the hill, while weaving around the abandoned cars strewn across the road.

Sledders attempt to salvage the last of the ice on Queen Anne Ave N, swerving around the remaining cars that got stuck in the slippery mess Monday night.

As of 2 p.m. the Counterbalance was still closed to through traffic, however a few gutsy drivers have managed to move their cars off the hill by sliding down slowly and carefully.

And one tow truck managed to pick up one of the four cars that were still crunched together from the collision late last night (video here).

We’ll be posting a gallery of more Queen Anne snow fun (and chaos) pictures shortly. Have a pic or video you’d like to submit? Email us at tips@queenanneview.com, or post the link below.

Update 11:57 p.m. Monday: Yet another car crashed on the Counterbalance heading up to Queen Anne, and there’s video:

Video courtesy of Fred Sayre.

Update 10:45 p.m. If there something that every Queen Anne resident knows, it’s not to drive up the Queen Anne Ave. hill in the snow. Just watch what happens with this Audi after it nearly reaches the top:

And that’s not all. Moments later, another Audi met the same fate. Watch here. Videos by JohnGoad via @markmurray98119.

Update 6:42 p.m.: Good thing the Counterbalance is finally closed to traffic, because there was quite an alarming pile up of cars stuck on the icy slope this evening, culminating when three cars (one a yellow taxi), all slipping independently, collided.

Pre-collision.

Post-collision.

We’re also hearing reports that many Metro bus routes servicing Queen Anne are no longer able to make stops on much of the hill. Check these route alerts here.

Update 5:18 p.m.: There have been reportedly two collisions along West Olympic/10th Ave W, however a reader says Taylor/5th Ave N is not too bad.

Update 5:01 p.m.: If you’re driving to the top of the hill tonight, avoid Queen Anne Ave N at all costs—there are now cars sliding around up and down the Counterbalance. At one point at around 4:55 p.m. there were five cars stuck at the intersection of Queen Anne Ave N and Aloha, about a third of the way up the hill. While most have made it through, many have had to turn around and slide back down the hill. If you’re not already on the Counterbalance, try to find another way home. Other suggested routes up the south slope: Taylor & 5th Ave N, and 10th Ave W.

If you’re planning to take Queen Anne Avenue home today, you might want to head back as soon as possible, because snow on the steep street is stacking up—and sticking.

While cars are still traveling up and down the Counterbalance regularly, in the last thirty minutes the pavement has quickly been powered with snow. It doesn’t look like the street will be open much longer.

On a more enthusiastic note, can someone say sledding tomorrow?

In the meantime, here’s how snow (and traffic) is looking at various points in and around Queen Anne.

Snow is still falling here in Queen Anne. And while streets are still open, school has been canceled, Park and Recreation facilities are closing, and the neighborhood’s white cover is continuing to accumulate.

View from Kerry Park overlooking Lower Queen Anne, the Space Needle, and downtown

While walking around the neighborhood this morning, I snapped a bunch of pictures of Queen Anne’s snow-scapes. Take a look in the gallery below.

Have pictures of Queen Anne in the snow that you’d like to share? Email us at tips@queenanneview.com and we’ll add them to the gallery.

Now wrap up, stay warm, stock your shelves with hot coco, and enjoy the snow!

Queen Anne Ave is still open to vehicle traffic, at least for now. The day’s snow has not yet stuck to the steep thoroughfare, and cars seems to be traveling up and down the hill just fine. However, just after returning home from a walk around town taking pictures of the snow, I glanced out my window to catch a large semi-truck sliding backwards, down Queen Anne Avenue, back to the bottom of the Counterbalance.

The driver didn’t make another attempt to climb the hill, indicating that conditions are already too slick for larger vehicles to safely traverse.

The weather report originally estimated that Seattle could see anywhere from 1 to 3 inches of snow today, but as the snowfall presses on, UW atmospheric scientist Cliff Mass says even more snow—in large amounts—is a possibility this afternoon. From Cliff’s blog:

If the low goes south of us and draws some of that cold, unstable air in…and it meets the cold stream from the north, we are talking about serious snow (6-12 inches). Or if the low moves farther north we could get a Puget Sound convergence zone over the central Sound and a huge amount of snow in a narrow band (a la Dec 18, 1990). The system is moving slower than the models predicted and the real threat is the middle and latter parts of this afternoon.

While many of the roads in Queen Anne are still clear, ice is stacking up. There have already been a handful of crashes on the Aurora Bridge today, and conditions are increasingly worse as the day goes on.

Seattle Public Schools also decided that the forecast for snow, the majority of which is expected to fall this afternoon, was enough to release all schools in the district at 12:35 p.m today (originally only the middle and high schools were given a half day).

Seattle Parks and Recreation has also closed down a number of facilities due to the snow. Here are the closures affecting Queen Anne:

• All community center programs scheduled after 6 p.m. are canceled.
• All pool programs scheduled after 6 p.m. are canceled.
• Pools and community centers will be open for drop-in use until their regularly scheduled closing times: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/centers.asp and http://www.seattle.gov/parks/pools.asp.
• All athletic fields are closed.
• All evening recreation programs are canceled.
• Parks and Recreation’s middle-school learning centers are closed.
• Late night programs will not take place tonight.
• Golf courses are closed but not open for sledding because there is not enough snow.

School age care camps at the Queen Anne Community Center are still in session.