Seattle Gripped by Winter Storm
High winds and freezing temperatures disrupt transit and harbor life across the Puget Sound.
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Seattle is experiencing a severe winter storm that has brought high winds, snow, and freezing temperatures. The harbor is treacherous, with gale-force winds tossing boats like cradles and forcing small vessels to stay at their wharves. Streetcar lines have struggled, with the Yester cable line and West street line experiencing icing issues. Great Northern telegraph lines were downed, and overland trains are significantly delayed. Across the Sound, Tacoma reports streetcar blocks, broken pipes, and damage to shacks in the 'Hallelujah' harbor area. Weather officials note that a high-pressure system over Montana trapped the storm over Washington, but forecasts indicate it is beginning to move southeast.
“The harbor presented a treacherous appearance during the morning hours, the whitecaps leaping high and the waves rolling in and creaking against the piles.”
Seattle’s infrastructure has struggled with snow and ice for over a century. This report captures the familiar local anxiety when 'the big one'—or at least a particularly stubborn arctic blast—shuts down the city's transport and harbor.
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