EDITOR’S NOTE: Here is the latest report from Pierce County Road Operations Division Manager Bruce Wagner on road conditions during today’s winter storm.

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All roads in Pierce County are currently affected by snow and ice. Today actual conditions have been much more severe than forecast. Crews worked throughout the night plowing and applying salt/sand; however, around 5 a.m. temperatures dropped and the rate of snowfall increased rapidly. Our 27 plow/sander trucks and 4 road graders are working in pre-established areas with all efforts focused on arterial lifeline routes. Until conditions improve and crews have caught up with needs on these routes, we will not be responding to residential areas.

Current conditions across the county:

— South Hill, Parkland, Spanaway, Graham areas: 1″-2″ accumulation with light to moderate snowfall. Arterials are bare and wet to with patches of slush and compact snow; side streets are 50 percent compact snow; residential roads are 100 percent compact snow.

— Buckley, Eatonville, Ashford, Elbe, Roy, McKenna areas: Up to 3″ accumulation with light to moderate snowfall. All roads are predominantly covered with compact snow.

— Gig Harbor, Purdy, Ken Peninsula areas: Up to 3″ accumulation with light to moderate snowfall. All roads are covered with compact snow.

Road Operations has request support from other County agencies to bolster storm fighting efforts. We will keep all available resources in 24 hour response mode until road conditions return to normal.