Today, more than 80% of global shipping involves containers. They're packed with everything from personal storage items in dry containers to heavy machinery on flat rack containers. For business owners shipping products, getting a container from point A to point B requires precise planning and high-level tracking. But that's easier said than done when global supply chains become over-congested, leading to loading time issues and delays.
That's bad news for business owners who are already under a massive amount of stress. The truth is that container storage delays can cripple a business, but there's a viable solution: drayage brokers in Seattle, WA like RelyEx. Drayage companies provide unique solutions to minimize demurrage and help ensure the successful delivery of your freight.
With more than 30 combined years of experience and a solutions-oriented team, RelyEx has quickly become the first choice for streamlined, efficient drayage services. To understand the true value of RelyEx's offerings in the global logistics industry, it helps to understand first what drayage is and why it's used.
If you're a seasoned business owner who uses port drayage to transport your products, you know exactly how important the service can be. But if you were to poll a group of random people, you may get five different definitions of the term "drayage." That begs the question, how is one of the most crucial steps in the supply chain and most vital components of global trade such a confusing concept? When you break it down, it's not too difficult to grasp.
Drayage, by definition, means the transportation of freight from an ocean port to another destination. Today, drayage is also used to describe the process of transporting products and goods over short distances or over "the first mile."
While drayage often means short-distance movements during the supply chain process, it's primarily used in the container shipping space. Drayage loads usually have arrival and departure points in the same city and don't include long-haul, national transportation.
Because a drayage load can mean a few different things, confusion among carriers is common. Many carriers link drayage with going into a port, but that isn't always true. While all drayage loads typically originate from a port of entry, there are often several legs of a drayage journey before a container turns up at its final stop. Legs of a drayage load may include:
You may be thinking, what's so important about drayage? It's such a small step in the container storage transport process. In reality, it's an integral piece needed in the logistics industry and a crucial part of U.S. supply chain management.
To truly understand the importance of drayage, let's use flowers as an example. Most cut flower shipments enter the market from areas in South America until they end up at Dutch auction houses. Once there, wholesalers purchase flowers in bulk and send those products to retail outlets worldwide. Because flowers are perishable, they typically need to be refrigerated and are often shipped in reefer containers. These refrigerated vessels must maintain a certain temp to prevent loss.
Drayage companies like RelyEx allow flower shippers to send their products from Argentinian ports to airports in the Netherlands with peace of mind because their products are protected. The only way to accomplish this feat is with the help of swift, meticulous port drayage services. Drayage companies allow flower shippers to send their products from Argentinian ports to airports in the Netherlands with peace of mind, because their products are protected. The only way to accomplish this feat is with the help of swift, meticulous port drayage services.
If port drayage is compromised, it can cause delays and even fines. You know the packages you get delivered to your front door from apps like Amazon? Without drayage and drayage brokers, one or two-day shipping times wouldn't even be possible.
As a multi-billion-dollar industry in the U.S. alone, it seems like drayage shipping issues shouldn't exist. But the fact is inefficiencies and congestion are still major problems at ports. Whether it's a lack of carriers, absent chassis, or overburdened terminals, delays lead to missed deadlines, lost revenue, and worse.
But anytime challenges exist, so too do innovative solutions.
QUOTE REQUESTRelyEx was created because our founders saw a need in the logistics space for more reliability and efficiency. The reality of the shipping and logistics industry is that it has become very transactional. It's an odd evolution, because most businesses seek a third-party logistics partner that is accessible, transparent, and committed to providing solutions.
As the logistics space continues to grow, it creates newfound expenses and complexities. Clients like ours know that and need a supply chain partner who is genuinely interested in their business. By understanding the needs of our customers and carriers, we can provide the most reliable, effective drayage services possible.
Unlike some drayage companies in Seattle, WA, we begin managing your containers before they ever hit the ports by mapping out the most efficient pathways of delivery. That way, our team can discover the best drayage pathways to expedite delivery time and reduce fees that cut into profits.
Our valued drayage customers choose RelyEx because:
At RelyEx, we like to consider ourselves problem solvers. The nature of the container drayage industry presents new challenges every day, but we're firm believers that there's a solution to every hurdle we encounter. And while some drayage businesses implement a reactive approach, RelyEx customers choose us for our proactive mindset. We take pride in solving your company's drayage challenges to help you avoid frustrating fees, missed expectations, and delayed shipments. We strive to make every transaction successful and streamlined by partnering with shippers who prioritize transparent, prompt, and accurate communication.
RelyEx approaches your business from the customer's perspective - a unique approach that helps us provide high-quality, effective drayage services. We've been in the customers' shoes, know their pain points, and because of that, provide first-hand solutions to stressful supply chain issues. With over 30 years of collective knowledge, our team excels in:
Our varied, high-level drayage shipping experience helps us achieve our overarching goal: expertly managing your freight movement needs. That way, you can direct your time and focus on growing the core aspects of your business while we handle the heavy lifting. Throw in proactive planning to avoid bottleneck situations and strong communication for transparent customer relations, and you can see why so many companies trust RelyEx.
When it comes to shipping logistics, it only takes one mistake by a mediocre worker to disrupt your business. That's why, at RelyEx, we pride ourselves on forming and nurturing relationships with carriers who match our standards of care. Our founding partner started his career transporting freight for companies as an on-demand carrier. He uses that knowledge to maximize the resources of our carriers so that our customer's expectations aren't just met - they're exceeded.
Based in the port city of Seattle, RelyEx has a keen understanding of the challenges of managing the inbound and outbound flow of containers. Our team of container drayage experts provides your business with unique solutions to nuanced shipping problems, minimizing demurrage and ensuring the successful delivery of your freight.
Customers choose RelyEx because:
Some drayage brokers don't care how customers feel about their service as long as they sign a contract and get paid. As a solutions-oriented team, RelyEx takes the opposite approach. We're motivated by the opportunity to overachieve for our customers and to provide them with the best logistics experience possible. With professional experience as carriers and shippers ourselves, we know the roadblocks and challenges you're facing. We excel at mapping out the best plans of action to solve those problems. But that's just the start.
Our tracking experts monitor and manage every aspect of your drayage shipment from booking to delivery, 24/7. Once booked, we look for the availability of your containers hourly once they're at port. When they arrive, our team acts quickly to access your storage containers when they're available.
Plus, RelyEx ensures your company's requirements are met by the carrier during loading and delivery and provide necessary documentation as fast as possible. With real-time tracking updates and access to our customer service professionals, your team has complete visibility throughout the shipping process.
Over the years, RelyEx has built a strong network of drayage carriers, transloading locations, and container storage spaces to provide you with the best possible options to match your drayage service needs. We know that searching for quality service presents an added layer of complexity and stress to our customers. That's why we work hard to take that off your plate by connecting you with our reliable shipping partners.
With a background moving freight as an on-demand carrier, our founding partner understands how to maximize the resources and equipment of our carriers to match your needs.
Like other industries, the global logistics space is complex. Mistakes will be made, and problems will happen. With those truths in mind, RelyEx has built its reputation as problem solvers. Unlike other drayage companies, we don't shy away from this industry's complexities because we take pride in solving problems. Even better, we aim to do what's needed to avoid those problems altogether.
As your logistics partner, we will provide your company with accurate, transparent, and prompt communication. If there are unexpected issues, we'll notify you immediately and will provide several options to remedy the problem. We even offer custom reporting for large clients who need at-the-moment updates and quick access to shipment documentation.
Why let the unpredictability of your industry dictate your success? With a background working in manufacturing, our founders are familiar with the demands of managing production schedules and sales orders. That experience makes it abundantly clear to us that every business and industry is different. If you struggle with seasonal surges or other factors, our team supports your business with a mapped-out plan and schedule, so you stay ahead of the game.
QUOTE REQUESTBased in the port city of Seattle, RelyEx has a keen understanding of the challenges of managing the inbound and outbound flow of containers. Our team of container drayage experts provides your business with unique solutions to nuanced shipping problems, minimizing demurrage and ensuring the successful delivery of your freight.
Demurrage is a charge issued by a port, carrier, or railroad company for storing containers that do not load and unload their cargo promptly. Once the daily limit of free time is exceeded, shippers are charged daily demurrage fees until their cargo is shipped. Though different ports have different policies, charges can range from $75 to $150 per container, per day, for a set number of days. Additional demurrage fees are incurred if a shipper exceeds the port's parameters.
Even when shippers maintain a tight schedule for unloading freight, external factors can play an uncontrollable part. Typically, shipping mistakes caused by human error trigger the most demurrage charges. Some of the most common causes of demurrage include:
Typically, shippers need four specific documents to clear shipments through customs: A Bill of Lading (or BOL), a commercial invoice, a packing list, and an arrival notice. Seasoned drayage brokers like RelyEx are used to preparing these documents, but new shippers tend to miss this step due to inexperience.
If a shipper only pays for part of their shipment, a vessel operator may refuse to release their freight until their bill is fully paid. Payment delays lead to cargo detention at the port of entry, which triggers demurrage charges.
QUOTE REQUESTPaperwork is needed when you're shipping goods with a drayage company. When documents like the Certificate of Origin or Bill of Lading arrive at their destination late, you can expect demurrage fees. RelyEx avoids this situation entirely by being proactive when submitting paperwork.
Additional causes for demurrage fees can include:
At RelyEx, we know first-hand how stressful supply chain problems can be for business owners. Though drayage shipping might seem minor on the surface, it affects every stage of your shipping process. And when inevitable hurdles manifest, RelyEx propels you over the proverbial roadblocks with a proactive mindset and a passion for challenging projects. We believe that all problems have a solution, and our unique vantage point allows us to provide first-hand solutions to customers in a wide array of industries.
When it comes to your business, don't settle for anything less than RelyEx. Contact our office today to learn more about how we make your shipping experience streamlined and stress-free.
843-885-3082Before heading out, check the mountain pass reports on the Washington State Transportation website for pass closures and delays. Call 511 for the most up-to-date highway, pass, and road conditions. Check park openings and closures on the Washington State Park website.Be prepared for your trip to the snow! Carry extra water, food, clothing, and blankets in anticipation...
Before heading out, check the mountain pass reports on the Washington State Transportation website for pass closures and delays. Call 511 for the most up-to-date highway, pass, and road conditions. Check park openings and closures on the Washington State Park website.
Be prepared for your trip to the snow! Carry extra water, food, clothing, and blankets in anticipation of slow-downs, crowded parks, and closures.
Also: Read this review from a parent who visited Hyak for the first time last winter.
Snow is a wonderful thing. It is gorgeous and useful for building. It can also be wonderfully slippery, allowing people to hurtle down hills in all kinds of conveyances.
Sledding and tubing are ways that kids can explore the potential of snow, using simple, affordable tools that do not require lessons to master. And while you’re there, take some time to build a snow creature, pelt each other with snowballs, catch a snowflake on the tongue, make snow angels and stop and listen to the way sounds travel when the world is covered in white.
Safety reminder: Wear helmets.
There are two kinds of options listed here: sled hills and tube parks.
With sledding, you use a toboggan or sled or a tube that you buy. Some toboggans and sleds are theoretically possible to steer. Some are not. You don’t need a special track, but you’ll go farther if you are on a hill that has already been sledded on. (A few choice spots are groomed from time to time.) And once you sled down the hill, you have to carry your sled back up the hill.
For more family friendly things to do, news, events and travel, sign up for Seattle's Child newsletters
At a tube park, you go downhill riding a round-inflated tube that is provided as part of the ticket price. It is impossible to steer, so places with tubing tend to have specially designed chutes that will send your tube rocketing down without bumping into other people. Once you sled down the hill, you ride some kind of lift, or at least a rope tow, back to the top. For this reason, access to tubing always involves tickets and waivers. It may also require reservations.
Before you go, check the conditions. Many places take a little while to get enough snow, so they are likely to open later than ski areas tend to. And if they are open, you don’t want to drive two hours to the sledding spot, only to find it is raining or so cold your face hurts.
Here are some local hotspots for families sliding downhill on snow. Driving time estimates are based on leaving Seattle at 8 o’clock on a Saturday morning. (More mountain fun: 8 places Seattle families can go cross-country skiing | And also: Teacher’s tips for dressing kids for the great outdoors)
Open for the 2023-24 season, Washington State Parks and the U.S. Forest Service have opened Annette Lake Sno-Park at exit 47 on I-90 (west of Snoqualmie summit).
Annette Lake Sno-Park has access to ungroomed, marked trails for snow-shoeing and backcountry skiing, plus access for family fun in the snow. There is plowed parking for 40 vehicles, a toilet and an information kiosk. A Sno-Park permit is required.
More detailed directions: Take exit 47 off I-90. Turn right on NF 55 road. Turn left on Asahel Curtis. Continue 0.4 miles to parking area.
Easy to reach sled hill in Lake Easton State Park. It is groomed from time to time, (however, currently there is no grooming due to the lack of snow this season). This park has heated bathrooms. There’s a lovely cross-country ski trail nearby. (Make sure you are in the area clearly designated as Hyak Sno-Park — and not at Summit East (Hyak ski hill), which is not safe for sledding.)
Driving time from Seattle: 1 hour
Elevation: About 2,500 feet
Conditions: Recorded message line 509-656-2230
Activity: Tubing hill and designated snow play area (the regular sled hill near the golf course is currently closed)
Open 8 a.m. until dusk daily.
Fees: Each vehicle needs a Sno-Park Permit with a Special Groomed Trails Permit.
Bring your family to the Summit at Snoqualmie for a fun tubing day; this park is now open for the winter 2023/2024 season. Reservations are recommended at this popular park in the bustling ski area closest to Seattle. The ski lifts are open for this season as well.
Driving time from Seattle: 1 hour
Elevation: About 3,000 feet
Conditions: summitatsnoqualmie.com/conditions
Activity: Tubing & skiing
Open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays for six two-hour slots per day. Online reservations only, no tickets sold onsite.
Ticket prices depend on the day and the time slot. Starting at $19 per person
Age restrictions: The park does not recommend tubing for kids under 3.
In the summer, Lake Wenatchee is a popular camping getaway. In the snow, there’s still fun to be had. Along with the tubing hill and snow play area, there are also trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Driving time from Seattle: 2.5 hours
Elevation: About 1,875 feet
Conditions: Lake Wenatchee State Park’s phone number is 509-763-3101
Activities: Tubing hill and snow play area.
Fees: Each vehicle needs a Sno-Park Permit with a Special Groomed Trails Permit.
This historic facility, in operation since the 1920s, has a tubing park. It is open for winter season 2023-2024 for sledding. However, other trails are closed currently.
Driving time from Seattle: 2.5 hours
Elevation: About 1,200 feet
Conditions: skileavenworth.com/conditions
Activities: Tubing and sledding.
Ticket prices: $29 for six tubing runs; use of the sledding hill is $9 per person or $22 for a family of 4.
Restrictions: Tubers under 8 years old must be supervised by an adult. On the sled hill, no sleds with steel runners.
Continue to check website to see openings at Leavenworth Ski Hill.
ELSEWHERE:
Lots of families have their own “secret,” less, crowded sledding spots. Lucky them! Washington Trails Association mentions a few somewhat “off the beaten path” locations in this blog post (scroll down).
White Pass tubing hill is open daily from December 16-January 1 and then Friday-Sunday and holidays. Tubes are first come first serve.
Driving time from Seattle: 3.5 hours
Elevation: 4,501 feet
Conditions: you can find daily snow conditions here
Activities: Tubing
Fee: $10 for ages 8 and under, $15 for ages 9 and up.
Restrictions: No sleds.
Looking for some exciting things to do in Seattle this weekend?The weekend is finally here and it’s packed with fun things to do in Seattle! There are plenty of new events and activities happening this weekend in Seattle and the surrounding area. Whether you’re ...
The weekend is finally here and it’s packed with fun things to do in Seattle! There are plenty of new events and activities happening this weekend in Seattle and the surrounding area. Whether you’re in the mood to eat, shop, explore, or go on an adventure, we got you.
If you’re looking for more weekend ideas, check out free things to do in Seattle, fun things to do with kids in Seattle, and the best bars in Seattle.
Here are the events in Seattle this weekend that you won’t want to miss:
This Sunday is New Year’s Eve! See our guide to where to watch the New Year’s Eve fireworks in Seattle and our roundup of all the best Seattle New Year’s Eve parties.
Astra Lumina: A Night Walk Amongst The Stars just opened in Seattle! This night walk through the Seattle Chinese Garden is full of magical projections, lighting, and music. Tickets are available here for this weekend and more dates.
This Sunday, December 31 the Seahawks are playing an exciting home game at Lumen Field against the Pittsburgh Steelers. If you can’t swing tickets, get cozy at one of Seattle’s best sports bars to watch the game.
It’s truly an exciting weekend for sports in Seattle. The Kraken are playing a home game at Climate Pledge Arena against the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday, December 29.
When: December 14 and onwards Where: SIFF Cinema Downtown Cost: $20
Now renamed the SIFF Cinema Downtown, Seattle’s iconic Cinerama Theatre has reopened! Tickets are on sale now to go see the first movie being screened there: Wonka. Don’t forget to get the chocolate popcorn.
Harry Potter™: Magic at Play is now open in Seattle! All ages can experience the magic of the wizarding world in this immersive experience. Get your tickets here.
When: now through December 31 Where: Seattle Center Cost: Free!
You can still enjoy one final weekend of Winterfest at Seattle Center. This free festival includes an international bazaar, live entertainment, and more. You can read all about Seattle Center Winterfest here before you go.
When: now through January 1 Where: Sheraton Grand Seattle Cost: Free!
The Sheraton Grand Seattle has been displaying their annual Gingerbread Village all December and this is your last chance to check it out! The theme for 2023 is The Chocolate Factory! It’s free for the public to go view this festive display during the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Donations are welcome and go towards the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
When: now through December 31 Where: various venues Cost: varies
Several live holiday shows are being performed in Seattle this month, ranging from classics like George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker at Pacific Northwest Ballet to humorous improv and drag shows. See our guide to all the current holiday shows in Seattle.
Tis the season for festive spirits! Most Seattle holiday pop-up bars are closing after this weekend. See our guide to the best holiday-themed bars in Seattle.
When: now through January 15 Where: Bellevue Downtown Park Cost: $15-$20
If ice skating is one of your favorite ways to celebrate the winter season, you should head over to Bellevue this weekend! With over 9,000 square feet of real ice, the Bellevue Ice Rink is the region’s largest seasonal ice rink. Buy tickets on the Bellevue Ice Rink website.
When: now through January 14 Where: Woodland Park Zoo Cost: $28+
Take your kids or your inner child to the Woodland Park Zoo after dark for WildLanterns! It’s a fun way to lift your spirits and inject some light into your evening during these dark winter months in Seattle.
If you’d prefer to visit the zoo during the daytime, you can now get Woodland Park Zoo Skip the Line tickets. Your ticket will get you access to the zoo, keeper talks, and more—all without having to wait in line.
Grab your friends and head to one of these fun dance parties happening in Seattle this weekend (ages 21+):
Whether you want to browse vintage clothing, handmade crafts, or delicious food, you’ll want to check out these Seattle weekend markets!
The last week has seen a flurry of restaurant closure news in Seattle as many owners decide the financial math is not working out in their favor, cut their losses, and close up shop. Restaurants that announced their ends include the award-winning and controversy-stained JuneBaby, the Ballard Korean spot ...
The last week has seen a flurry of restaurant closure news in Seattle as many owners decide the financial math is not working out in their favor, cut their losses, and close up shop. Restaurants that announced their ends include the award-winning and controversy-stained JuneBaby, the Ballard Korean spot WeRo (a recent Eater Award recipient), and vegan Jewish deli Ben and Esther’s, whose owners explicitly blamed the high cost of labor and rent in Seattle for their decision to shut down.
But we’re about to go on a mini-break for the next week — except for a few end-of-year roundups that will appear on the site — and don’t want to leave 2023 in a negative energy haze. To cleanse the vibes of the site, we’re going to highlight three recent openings that we’re pretty excited to visit in early 2024:
The owners of Fremont’s Le Coin, a French-style bistro where it’s difficult to have a bad meal, have planted a new restaurant into a space on the corner of 24th Avenue and Market Street in Ballard. Called the Garrison, it’ll specialize in the three Cs: Champagne, Chartreuse (a Le Coin specialty), and C-food.
The address (2319 Market) was most recently the home of the quirky Hotel Albatross, which was actually a restaurant that invented a fake historical backstory for itself involving a Gilded Age love affair, a shipwreck, etc. In real life, the space was the original location of the Azteca Mexican chain, which is just as cool.
Right now, only the lounge area, which seats about 20, is open, but owners Jordan Melnikoff and Joshua Delgado tell Eater Seattle that within a few months they hope to have the larger space open, which seats around 150. They also plan to soon open the takeout window to sell whatever they feel like — on any given day it could be tacos, or fried chicken sandwiches, or chicken and waffles.
The Garrison is only open Friday through Monday from 4 to 10 p.m., though it will likely start opening on Thursdays very soon. Since only the lounge space is available at the moment, reservations are strongly encouraged.
On the opposite end of the dining spectrum — or at least the other end of the galaxy — is this newly opened Magnolia cafe, which is a sci-fi-themed coffee shop with a particular love for Star Wars. (If you were like, “Duh of course it’s Star Wars–themed! The Outer Rim is a direct reference to...” then this is the cafe for you.)
The space is more minimal than Mos Eisley, but framed Star Wars and Star Trek prints add a splash of color. Our favorite piece, though, is in the bathroom — an AT-AT drinking dog-like out of a toilet.
The Outer Rim is not to be confused with Distant Worlds, a Roosevelt sci-fi coffee shop. And before you ask whether Seattle can support two separate cafes catering to nerds, remember, this is Seattle. The Outer Rim is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends.
Ahmed Suliman’s eponymous pop-up is putting down roots at Melrose Market on Capitol Hill, with a brick-and-mortar restaurant serving an ever-changing menu based on the cuisines of North Africa and the Arab world. (Suliman is a Sudanese national who grew up in Persian Gulf states.)
Cafe Suliman is sharing the space with longtime wine maven Marc Papineau’s wine bar, Cantina Sauvage. Papineau was a co-owner (with restaurateur Matt Dillon) of Bar Ferd’nand, which used to be in Melrose Market before moving to nearby Chophouse Row, then closing in 2020. Papineau and Suliman worked together at Dillon’s restaurants and are bringing a casual attitude to the Cap Hill dining scene. Papineau is the kind of wine dude who writes stuff like, “Suli and I will be working side by side dishing up tasty treats and glasses of authentic UNFUCTWITH BADDASSERY!!!! SO STOKED!“
“Everybody likes the vibe of the place,” Suliman tells Eater Seattle. “With us being there, there’s a bit of a feeling that the market is coming back.”
Cafe Suliman doesn’t take reservations and is open from noon to 8 p.m. Thursdays through Mondays. It also sells pantry items including spices, tinned fish, coffee, and wine, of course.
1531 Melrose Ave, Seattle, WA 98122 Visit Website
2821 Thorndyke Avenue, Seattle, 98199 Visit Website
Ted Buehner -- KIRO Newsradio MeteorologistThe latest seasonal weather outlook was recently issued by the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center and offered a look at what the rest of this winter has in store, plus a peek at the remainder of the year.The warming impact of El Niño is reflected in the outlook into March. Overall temperatures are anticipated to remain warmer than average for the three-month period of January through M...
Ted Buehner -- KIRO Newsradio Meteorologist
The latest seasonal weather outlook was recently issued by the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center and offered a look at what the rest of this winter has in store, plus a peek at the remainder of the year.
The warming impact of El Niño is reflected in the outlook into March. Overall temperatures are anticipated to remain warmer than average for the three-month period of January through March with no significant trend for precipitation.
More on Washington weather: Anniversary of Puget Sound storm that brought 100 mph wind gusts
Those warmer-than-average temperatures translate to a reduced threat of lowland snow. That does not mean snow could not occur, yet the odds are lower. Over the decades, there have been a number of El Niño winters with no lowland snow. In contrast, four of the snowiest years on record since the 1950s were El Niño winters, including the all-time record 68.5 inches of snow that fell at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) during the winter of 1968-69.
For the mountain snowpack, warmer El Niño winters are usually not good news. The average snow level tends to be higher resulting in a less-than-average snowpack once it reaches its peak around April 1. Water managers call the mountain snowpack “water in the bank” for summer and fall, and if the snowpack comes up short, water and wildfire managers’ concerns will rise.
The weather in Western Washington between Christmas and New Year’s Day reflects the warming of El Niño with high temperatures on either side of 50 degrees this week, three to five degrees above the average for late December.
An offshore Pacific weather system will spread rain onshore Wednesday. With surface high pressure parked over the Rockies, this incoming system’s lower pressure will also create strong pressure differences across the Cascades, producing blustery easterly gap winds focused along the west slopes and foothills. Gusts of 50 mph are anticipated overnight tonight through midday Wednesday raising the possibility of local power outages.
During the rest of the week, weather systems rotating northeast off the coast will maintain a threat of showers into the final weekend of the year. Low temperatures will remain mild, ranging from the mid-30s to the mid-40s across the region.
More from Ted Buehner: Increase in hazardous weather spurs bills to modernize systems
For those traveling across the Cascades or enjoying the snow slopes, snow levels will be on a rollercoaster through the week, ranging from about 4,000 feet to as high as 6,000 feet. Those east winds through the passes though will tend to keep those areas cooler, providing a wintry mix of rain and snow. Local brief freezing rain cannot be ruled out.
This winter’s El Niño looks to be a one-and-done event with sea surface temperatures in the Eastern Pacific Ocean moderating this spring and summer. The seasonal weather outlook though maintains good chances of warmer than average temperatures for this spring and summer. For precipitation, the odds tip toward drier than average from March through August, again a concern for water and wildfire managers.
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OLYMPIA, Wash. — A proposal heading to the Washington state Legislature could put more money back in drivers' pockets. Republican lawmakers are pushing for a rebate program in response to the state's cap-and-trade initiative that boosted gas prices as a way to help reduce carbon emissions.Republican House Reps. April Connors and Mary Dye argue the ...
OLYMPIA, Wash. — A proposal heading to the Washington state Legislature could put more money back in drivers' pockets. Republican lawmakers are pushing for a rebate program in response to the state's cap-and-trade initiative that boosted gas prices as a way to help reduce carbon emissions.
Republican House Reps. April Connors and Mary Dye argue the cap-and-trade program made three times more revenue than expected, an excess of an estimated $1.3 billion. Their solution is to give that money back to registered car owners who are feeling the pain at the pump. Current AAA figures show Washington gas prices are among the most expensive in the country, averaging $4.15 per gallon.
"A couple of [my constituents] feel like they're back in the era of covid again where they are stuck at home because they don't have the money to go fill up their tanks," Rep. Connors explained.
Under the proposal, registered vehicle owners in Washington state would receive a $180 rebate check, or up to $360 per two-car family in July. The so-called Carbon Auction Rebate, or CAR, would distribute those one-time payments to the state's 6.8 million registered vehicle owners.
Drivers seem split on whether boosting gas prices through the cap-and-trade program is the solution to lowering carbon emissions. Officials said it's about an extra 50 cents per gallon. But, just about everyone KOMO News crews talked to while they filled up on Wednesday -- some at more than $5.30 a gallon -- agreed a rebate for consumers is a welcome use of that excess revenue.
“I’m grateful for anything that’s going to help me,” stated driver Gabriel Green from Seattle. “I hope it’s distributed to people who need it- people who are feeling the pressure most.”
Sen. Jamie Pedersen was a sponsor of the cap-and-trade program through the Climate Commitment Act. He argued the proposed rebate is directly contrary to the objective of the program designed to get people to use less gas, and pay for projects that are meant to slow or adapt to climate change.
“I think it’s pretty unlikely that we’re going to divide up all of the money that we got from the Climate Commitment Act, all the excess revenue, and give it back to people based on how much gas was consumed in the state,” Pedersen added. "We want people to take transit, we want people to use electric vehicles, or walk or bike."
He noted the funding has helped pay for investments in renewable energies, electric vehicle charging stations, and allows youth to ride public transit for free, among other things.
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The legislative session starts in Olympia on Jan. 8.