Confidence in driving has some businesses and services that had previously canceled or delayed opening earlier in the week now announcing they are opening on regular hours. A rise in temperatures around the Ferndale area has begun to melt a week and a half’s worth of snow.
Announcing regular hours for the first time this week is the Ferndale Senior Activity Center.
Ferndale and Lummi Nation Schools had already scheduled today as a “no school” day.
Whatcom Transportation Authority announced this morning that slick spots and heavy slush had impacted their Ferndale and Gooseberry Point routes. Route 27 through Ferndale was reported to have been initially avoiding the Church Road hill from Main Street and later reported to be making the climb but not serving stops on hills.
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Click for more informationCity of Ferndale Public Works Supervisor Bo Westford said drivers can expect to encounter spotty ice patches throughout the area, especially in the higher elevations. “These are hard to see in the dark,” Westford said. “Roads can look bare and wet but have a layer of ice.” City sanders and plows were out this morning hitting the slick spots.
“Slush is also going to be a problem since it can push you where you don’t want to go,” Westford said. “This is going to be a slow melt, not like in 2008 when a pineapple express came in and melted the snow in a matter of hours.”
Westford said snowmelt puddling and ponding are another concern public works crews are dealing with. “We were out yesterday clearing away catch basins and will be continuing today.”
Yesterday’s evening commute was impacted by dropping temperatures freezing the afternoon snowmelt creating what law enforcement officials described as “ice rink” conditions on area roads. Slater Road was the scene of multiple vehicles requiring tow truck assistance after sliding off the road.