Rainfall causing extra accidents in Western Washington

KING COUNTY, Wash. — It doesn’t take much rain to make for a messy commute. The Wednesday morning rain presented some challenges for drivers. Troopers in King County said they responded to twice as many wrecks than a typical Wednesday.

As rain and clouds moved in over Puget Sound, drivers like Angela Reid had to take extra precaution since it’s been nearly two weeks without a drop from the sky.

“I don’t think anybody’s used to it. I think that’s why there was so much traffic today,” said Reid. “It was horrible, traffic was backed up from Everett all the way to Seattle and it was just stop and go, stop and go. The rain, you could barely see.”

State Troopers said in King County last Wednesday, they responded to 41 wrecks and, they've responded to 81 wrecks and the day wasn’t over.

State Troopers said in Snohomish County last Wednesday they responded to 19 wrecks and, they've responded to 17 wrecks and the day wasn’t over.

While rain can get messy for drivers, for firefighters it’s much needed. Fire officials said this month’s rainfall it hasn’t made up for the dry spring and now the dry fuel around us.

“Don’t be fooled by the little bit of moisture we’re having right now,” said Captain Joe Root with the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority. “Because of that early set up in the season, according to the Department of Ecology, there’s still 27 watersheds and 23 counties across the state that are in emergency drought status, so it still is a dry season.”

Whether it rains again or not, Josh Gressett from Texas will have his umbrella handy — even if it’s not the Seattle thing to do.

“I noticed that when I was walking around, I felt like the odd person out. Everybody has on light jackets, and rain jackets,” said Gressett. “You gotta have an umbrella, it’s just the way it is.”

Troopers say when it’s raining, it’s harder to stop because the roads get slick. They advise drivers to take it slow and keep their distance.