Winter storm gives way to melting snow | PHOTOS
Published 11:16 am Friday, January 20, 2012
The winter storm that has kept schools closed for days and knocked out power to residents gave way to warming temperatures and melting snow in Bellevue on Friday.
As rain begins to wash away the layers of snow and ice that fell throughout the week, street flooding will become a concern. City officials urge residents to clear their storm drains if possible.
Plows are beginning to penetrate neighborhoods, and work on arterial roads has continued throughout the day Friday.
Although many priority roads in Bellevue are passable, conditions vary, and motorists should drive with caution, especially on streets where water may be covering compact snow and ice. Residents should also be cautious of melting snow and ice falling from trees and roofs as thawing occurs.
Falling ice and trees have left more than 1,100 homes in Bellevue without power. In response the city has made available the following community centers where people can keep warm: Crossroads Community Center, 16000 NE 10th St., 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; North Bellevue, 4063 148th Ave. NE, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Highland, 14224 Bel-Red Road, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Lewis Creek Park, 5808 Lakemont Blvd. SE, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; South Bellevue, 14509 SE Newport Way, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center, 1625 118th Ave. SE, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
A crew works to restore power to homes near 143rd Avenue NE and Bel-Red Road in Bellevue on Friday morning. Residents in the area had been without electricity since about 2 p.m. on Thursday. PHOTOS BY CHAD COLEMAN, Bellevue Reporter
Two men try to assist a vehicle stuck in deep slush in a driveway along Bel-Red Road on Friday.
Ice melts from the branches of a tree near a power outage at 143rd Avenue NE and Bel-Red Road on Friday morning.
A cyclist pushes their bike through the slush near Highland Park in Bellevue on Friday.
