In photos: an unusual snow storm covers Seattle

SEATTLE (AP) – One

winter storm

which covered the state of

Washington

with snow and forced to cancel about 200 flights to Oregon today and forecasters warned that more snow would fall.

In Seattle, where snow is scarce, people have emptied the store shelves and left before work yesterday when the storm arrived. They woke up today and found more snow had fallen during the night, said the National Weather Service on a storm alert that remained in effect, with a possible 2.5 at 7.6 inches this afternoon and another storm forecast for tomorrow.

"It's the perfect morning to finish in the snow and play, but if possible, do not approach the roads," tweeted governor Jay Inslee.

Some 180 people spent the night in a Seattle Center shelter, and authorities were leaving today to search for the homeless and take them to a safe place. Inslee declared the state of emergency because of the storm and cars that skidded and crashed on highways, even though there was little traffic. The public transport department said they had to remove several trees fallen in the streets of the Tacoma region.

Other parts of the country have also experienced a complex climate. In California, more than 120 visitors and employees were rescued after being trapped for five days due to snow in a Sierra Nevada resort.

More than 148,000 customers lost their diet in Michigan after several days of freezing rain. The Consumer Energy service announced that electricity would be restored Sunday afternoon.