Throughout much of the western United States, unusual weather—including Las Vegas snow—has interrupted travel just as the big holiday travel season approaches.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (also known as Sea-Tac Airport or Seatac Airport) is also suffering from heavy delays, while the Spokane airport was hit with a record 17 inches of snow in a 24-hour period.
According to the Washington DOT (WSDOT), Seattle traffic, the Seattle metro transit system, and even Puget Sound ferries are facing troubles keeping the city moving in the face of many inches of wet snow.
The FAA diverted some planes from Las Vegas’ McCarran Airport as well as Seattle’s Sea-Tac and Spokane’s airport, while other flights were canceled by the airlines themselves due to poor visibility.
Fortunately, Sea-Tac airport recently opened a new runway that is helping this city, although delays are still significant at this point, thanks to “thunder-snow.” Thunder-snow, or simply “thundersnow,” is just what it sounds like: an unusual weather condition marked by simultaneous thunder and snowfall.
Elsewhere in the West, some parts of Las Vegas are slated for up to 8 inches of snow, though only a few inches (the National Weather Service is predicting a total of 3″) are expected near downtown.
Las Vegas snow is not unheard of, as the mountains outside the city regularly receive it. What was unusual was snow landing on the Strip, the first time it’s happened in any real quantity in Las Vegas in December since 1967 (though the city’s 9-inch all-time record from 1974 still stands).
In Spokane, record snowfall totaled 17 inches in a 24-hour period at the Spokane airport. And the city got a few more inches this morning, making it practically impossible for the airport to keep operating effectively.
California’s road conditions are also less than stellar as heavy rain and snowfall has resulted in some Golden State road closures. Significantly, the main freeway between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, I-15, is closed between Primm and Baker, CA.
Related Links: USA Today, Seattle Times, CA DOT Highway Maps, WSDOT Traffic Info, FlightStats Delay Tracker
By Matthew Calcara for PeterGreenberg.com.
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