Northwest winter weather

Winter weather pounded a swath of the U.S. West on Monday, closing schools, snarling traffic and turning coastal cities like Seattle that rarely get much snow unusually white, while the Midwest warmed up from a dangerous blast of cold last week.

Section:Gallery

Mon., Feb. 4, 2019

Traffic heads out of the brand new State Route 99 tunnel, left, and in, center, on its first day of service during a winter storm Monday morning, Feb. 4, 2019, in Seattle. Western Washington was hit with several inches of snow, cold temperatures and bone-chilling winds overnight and into the day Monday.

Elaine Thompson Associated Press
Children sled down one of Seattle’s steeper hills, ice-covered Queen Anne Ave., Monday, Feb. 4, 2019. Western Washington was hit by a major winter storm, with several inches of snow, cold temperatures and bone-chilling winds overnight and into the day Monday.

Elaine Thompson Associated Press
Trucks hauling shipping containers leave tracks as they make their way into the Port of Seattle during a winter storm Monday morning, Feb. 4, 2019, in Seattle. Western Washington was hit with several inches of snow, cold temperatures and bone-chilling winds overnight and into the day Monday.

Elaine Thompson Associated Press
Pedestrians huddle against snow and a cold wind Monday morning, Feb. 4, 2019, in Seattle. Western Washington was hit by a major winter storm, with several inches of snow, cold temperatures and bone-chilling winds overnight and into the day Monday. Numerous school districts have closed for the day and temperatures were in the low 20s across much of the region with wind chills in the teens.

Elaine Thompson Associated Press
A bust of Chief Sealth, who the city of Seattle is named for, is covered with snow during a storm Monday morning, Feb. 4, 2019, in Seattle. Western Washington was hit by a major winter storm, with several inches of snow, cold temperatures and bone-chilling winds overnight and into the day Monday.

Elaine Thompson Associated Press
People sled near the Astoria Column in Astoria, Ore., Monday, Feb. 4, 2019, after the area received a snowfall. Winter weather pounded a swath of the U.S. West on Monday, closing schools, snarling traffic and turning coastal cities like Seattle that rarely get much snow unusually white as the Midwest warmed up from a dangerous blast of cold last week.

Colin Murphey Associated Press
In this photo courtesy of Mammoth Mountain shows a winter storm sweeping in Mammoth Mountain, Calif., early Sunday Feb. 3, 2019. The National Weather Service said 8 feet fell at the June Mountain Ski resort north of Mammoth Lakes and up to 3 feet were reported in the resorts around Lake Tahoe since Friday. Forecasters said a blizzard from Sunday night to Monday night could bring another 5 feet around Lake Tahoe and another 8 feet to the highest elevations, and light snow down to the foothills.

Peter Morning Associated Press