Weather in Seattle Saturday? Take a Wild Guess!

[JWsleep]

Stormy weather... Sloppy conditions favor defense and the run game. But Alexander can run too. We'll see!

Jan 11, 3:43 AM EST

Mudslides Tie Up Washington Rail Traffic

By ELIZABETH M. GILLESPIE
Associated Press Writer

SEATTLE (AP) -- Heavy rain triggered mudslides that halted Amtrak passenger train service between Vancouver, British Columbia, and Portland, Ore. - the second disruption in the area in a week.

Mudslides also blocked part of a major highway Tuesday and chased residents out of a University of Washington fraternity annex, officials said. No injuries were reported.

Passenger rail service was to remain closed for at least 48 hours, said Gus Melonas, a spokesman for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp., which owns and operates the tracks.

Mudslides on Friday knocked out service to both Amtrak and commuter trains. Both services resumed by Monday but were halted again Tuesday. Buses then carried Amtrak passengers around blockages and replaced commuter trains between Seattle and Everett.

Crews on Tuesday also cleared debris from a mudslide that blocked part of Interstate 5 near Nisqually. Traffic was being detoured around a slide that closed another state road in Skagit County, the Transportation Department said.

Since Dec. 21, the region has experienced the warmest and possibly wettest early winter ever, the weather service said. In Seattle, Tuesday was the 23rd consecutive day of measurable rain. The record, set in 1953, is 33 days.

More precipitation was predicted. The National Weather Service issued wind advisories, flood warnings and a winter storm warning for portions of eastern Washington as a warm, moist storm moved through the region.

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