Sequim Gazette staff

 
What was predicted to be a dusting of snow — not more than a couple inches — turned into a full-blown blizzard Monday afternoon in Sequim.

By 2 p.m. an estimated 5 inches of snow accumulated in downtown Sequim, with the National Weather Service updating their prediction to a possible 18 inches of snow accumulating by Tuesday morning.

While the Sequim School District started Monday classes as usual, students were loaded onto buses and sent home at 2:15 p.m.

Tuesday classes were canceled altogether.

The Port Angeles School District canceled school for students Monday and Peninsula College closed all locations at 11 a.m.

Even dancing at the Oasis Sports Bar and Grill was canceled because of the snow. Port Book and News in Port Angeles closed two hours early and canceled its scheduled author event.

Sequim City Council postponed Monday night’s meeting until next Monday and the Sequim school board canceled its regularly scheduled meeting Monday night as well.

All North Olympic Peninsula libraries — including Sequim, Port Angeles, Forks and Clallam Bay — close today at 4 p.m. All libraries expect to resume normal hours of operation tomorrow, Nov. 23.

As of 2 p.m. Monday, the Clallam County commissioners intended to hold their Tuesday morning meeting as usual. Clallam County Administrator Jim Jones said the snow is expected to stop overnight and county and city road crews will work hard early Tuesday morning to clear the roads.

The snowfall is expected to end overnight and clear sunny skies are expected tomorrow, with a high near 32 degrees.