With snowfall having almost reached a record level in 30 of Washington's 39 counties, Gov. Chris Gregoire has declared a winter storm emergency statewide on Wednesday. Previously, states of emergency were declared in the counties of King, Pierce, Snohomish and Thurston, and the municipalities of Spokane, Spokane Valley and Gig Harbor and the Makah Indian Tribe.

After a week of heavy snow, closed roads, jammed airports, and cabin fever, temperatures are on the rise. However, the National Weather Service has forecast more snow Christmas morning. Friday onwards, high temperatures have been forecast, with most areas west of the Cascade Range expected to reach the low 40s.

The proclamation of emergency throughout the state would enable state agencies in hastening support for local emergency responses - all such state actions would be coordinated through Camp Murray's State Emergency Operations Center. The proclamation also makes way for freeing funds and activating the National Guard for emergency assistance and subsequent support in the face of new storms.

Along with the proclamation, the governor has also provided a 10-day temporary waiver of rules, which limits the number of hours that truck drivers can haul bulk milk to the dairies from the farms. Such a waiver would help avoid daily losses of nearly $1 million, in case milk failed to reach dairies within the time span fixed by health regulations.