Seattle snow advice for (snickering) Midwest transplants: Today So Far

This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for November 29, 2022.

Snow has arrived in Western Washington. But you already know that by the time you're reading this newsletter. So the main things to know now are that it likely won't stick around too long as warmer rain moves through the area tonight. The other thing to be aware of is that, despite the snow going away, that doesn't mean it won't be icy out there.

I can already hear it — the chuckles and the snickering of Midwestern transplants humored by Seattleites' wariness upon hearing the word "snow." That usually precedes the sound of those same Midwesterners eating crow. For such boastful Midwestern transplants, please consider the following Northwest wisdom.

Our region has this thing where we get freezing and then non-freezing temperatures in the same day, or over many days. That is evident right now — we got some flurries, maybe a dusting, and it will all melt pretty soon or get rained away. So roads get snow, then rain and melted snow, and then all that rain and melt freezes again, making an icy roadway. Throw some more snow on top of that ice and you have some pretty deceptive and dangerous driving conditions.

Midwest drivers often like to scoff at us and say, "I didn't grow up with your puny Seattle snow that drops a couple inches here or there. Blizzards dump feet and feet of snow upon us! And we laugh at the snow and show no fear as we drive through it with ease and tell of our snowy triumphs over a mug of mead!"

Here's the thing that the Midwest doesn't consider: Seattle has hills. Plus, the Northwest has those icy conditions that I explained above. It's not really driving in snow, as much as it is driving on an ice rink — unlike that luxurious powdery Midwest snow that is easier to grip into. Midwest transplants probably shouldn't speak so soon and learn from our past mistakes ... like this one.

The snow may be meager, or even brief, but it can still be mighty slippery.

Now, having said that, we have to be honest with ourselves. Locals have to admit that there are a lot of drivers out there with more Subaru confidence than driving wisdom, and that can lead to some problems. Or worse, new Toyota Tacoma drivers that are hopped up on TikTok mudding and trail videos. So be aware out there.

Part of that awareness is knowing your city's plowing schedule and routes. Thankfully, KUOW's Paige Browning has put together this helpful roundup of snow plow routes across our region. If you do need to drive anywhere, it's probably best to check which roads are going to be cleared.

The snow might be gone by tomorrow or later this week (depending on where you are around the lowlands), but this week should prove to be a good primer on snow preparation and icy roads.

And just think, around this time last year, we were all talking about how bad the flooding was.

AS SEEN ON KOUW

A new investigation has uncovered a memo sent from the state's police academy to the Tacoma Police Department. That 2018 memo warned the department about the behavior of a new recruit: Timothy Rankine. In 2020, Rankine helped fatally restrain Manuel Ellis in Tacoma. (Megan Farmer / KUOW)

DID YOU KNOW?: "Jingle Bells" wasn't written as an Xmas song

The holiday songs are already bombarding us on the radio and in stores. One such song you are likely to hear is "Jingle Bells," which is heavily associated with Christmas, however, "Jingle Bells" was not originally written as an Xmas jingle. It was more likely written for Thanksgiving, or at the very least, as a drinking song. James Pierpont originally wrote the song at the Simpson Tavern in Medford, Mass. in about 1850 (at least, that is what the town of Medford promotes). The song's original title, "The One Horse Open Sleigh," was copyrighted in 1857. The exact intentions around the song at the time of its creation are unclear, but one thing is certain — it was a popular drinking song. The original lyrics are certainly set up that way and the song is secular, making no religious references.

Folks who know Christmas history are aware that our modern conception of the holiday is a relatively recent development. Back in the 1850s, it wasn't the consumer powerhouse that it is today. An effort to establish a harvest festival, Thanksgiving, was in full swing back then thanks to Sarah Hale. Thanksgiving was a holiday regularly celebrated in New England at the time, and Pierpont's song was reportedly first performed (outside of a tavern) by children at his father's church on Thanksgiving (if true, it was most likely a modified version since the original lyrics are a bit mature for its time). As Christmas became the dominant holiday over the years, the song became more and more associated with it. By 1964, the Gemini 6 crew played the song from orbit, making it one of the first songs to be broadcast from space.

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