Surprise snow delays schools, blankets South End

Icy roads and a dusting of snow delayed the start of South Whidbey schools by two hours Tuesday.

South Whidbey residents were greeted by scattered snowfall from Clinton to just south of Greenbank. School district transportation officials began driving bus routes at 5 a.m. to determine if they were safe for buses.

“The roads were really slick in the Clinton area when I started driving the routes early Tuesday,” said Veronica Schmidt, transportation supervisor.

“Temperatures dropped below freezing making driving conditions hazardous,” Schmidt said.

Some route diversions were made by the bus drivers once they were on the roads. Parents and students were notified individually by telephone if their bus was rerouted due to the icy, snowy conditions.

“If the drivers reported a particular road was too icy, they were diverted to another nearby location,” Schmidt said.

Some of the most treacherous routes were Heggenes Road, High Street and the road around Goss Lake.

More winter weather is forecast this week with temperatures expected to fall into the 20s, with a possibility of more snowfall.

Parents and students should contact the transportation department at 221-5209; the district office 221-6100 or their schools for future closures.

While students got to sleep in two hours yesterday due to the snowfall, commuters faced icy roads on the way to work.

Island County send three Bayview Road Shop crews out to clear roads shortly after 2 a.m. Tuesday morning, said county crew supervisor Myron Gabelein.

The Bay Road/Deer Lake area had four to six inches of snow, he said. In some areas ice patches remained throughout morning traffic.

“Drive safely,” said Gabelein. The weather forecasts predict icy road conditions throughout the week.

No major accidents were reported to the Island County Sheriff’s Office.

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