Forecasters weigh in on chances of Thanksgiving snow in Seattle
Nov 22, 2019, 7:35 AM | Updated: Nov 25, 2019, 7:24 am
Seattle may have to wait for its winter snow. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)
(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)
Back in October, the chances for snow in Seattle over Thanksgiving seemed promising. We’re less than a week out from the holiday, and depending on who you’re talking to, there’s still a good deal of uncertainty regarding the big snow question.
‘Dice may be loaded’ for November snow in Seattle
The general consensus among most forecasters?
“November is early for (lowland snow), but … things can change,” said University of Washington Professor of Atmospheric Sciences Cliff Mass.
“Probably not, but there is a *small* chance,” said Seattle Weather Blog’s Justin Shaw.
“NO way to know any detail this far out,” said KIRO 7 meteorologist Morgan Palmer.
“[It’s] too early to say how low snow levels will fall,” agreed the National Weather Service on Twitter.
No one seems entirely certain, and while the odds seem slim, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who’s entirely ruling out the possibility.
What we do know is this: It’s going to be cold. Mass predicts that highs in Western Washington could graze the upper 30s. Last winter, the first day highs dipped under 40 degrees was all the way in February (when Seattle was buried under an historic snowstorm).
Last winter, we didn’t record our first sub-40 degree high until February.
🔹This winter, we may top out below 40 by #Thanksgiving. 🔹
— Seattle Weather Blog (@KSeattleWeather) November 22, 2019
But will it get cold enough for a snowy Thanksgiving in Seattle?
“Possibly,” said Palmer. “But will there even be moisture to work with? Unknown.”
Seattle could be primed for ‘very active winter’
Meanwhile, the NWS calls for snow across the region’s mountain passes, making for potentially hazardous holiday travel routes. Those periods of mountain snow are expected on Sunday, extending into next week. You can monitor mountain pass roads here.
Do your #Thanksgiving travel plans involve the mountains next week? Several rounds of snow are possible with snow levels lowering below the passes. Plan ahead now and make sure to keep an eye on the forecast! #wawx pic.twitter.com/KiNU4FlojZ
— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) November 21, 2019
Weather in the Puget Sound region has traditionally been notoriously difficult to pin down with any sort of certainty, especially when it comes to snow. While we wait for more certainty, stay tuned as forecasts continue to develop.
