Lewis County Sirens.com

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Area fire departments are bracing for whatever comes as snow falls that began Saturday are forecast to increase in strength.

“We’re just waiting to see what Mother Nature’s going to throw at us,” Winlock area Assistant Fire Chief Kevin Anderson said this morning. “They’re calling for five inches Tuesday night and more Wednesday morning.”

A winter storm watch was issued early today because of the potential for a major winter storm on Wednesday in Western Washington.

The National Weather Service says there is the possibility of significant snow in both the lowlands and the mountains.

Responders were especially busy Saturday night in the Napavine area, with lots of “fender benders” and then a serious rollover accident on Interstate 5 near the Avery Road and U.S. Highway 12 interchange, according to Firefighter Brad Bozarth.

Since Friday afternoon, troopers in west Lewis County responded to four minor-injury collisions and 14 non-injury collisions, according to Washington State Patrol Sgt. Shane Nelson.

Calls about crashes on icy roads slowed yesterday, with just one vehicle in a ditch in east Lewis County and a two-car collision on state Route 6 near Spooner Road, according to the state patrol and Fire District 6.

A winter storm warning is in effect already for tonight for areas in the central and north Cascades including eastern Lewis County with accumulations of as much as two feet of snow in places by late tonight.

In Rochester, all the stationed are fully staffed today, “waiting for the big one,” Firefighter-EMT Rocky Lyon said this morning.

Lyon said he was hearing reports of snow falling in the Gate area and expecting it to move east later this morning.

The weather service cautions that if folks must travel, they should carry extra flashlight, food, water and blanket in case of an emergency.

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Keep an eye on the official predictions for your area by clicking on the “Weather forecasts” link always on the right-hand sidebar of Lewis County Sirens.com – Remember, the forecast can and does change.

Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter

This entry was posted on Monday, January 16th, 2012 at 10:25 am and is filed under Top story of the day. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.