Cold moves into the Puget Sound; Dangerous conditions remain

The snow is beginning to leave the Puget Sound region and the cold is moving in.

“We are going to experience something rather rare. It’s called ‘flash freezing’ and it’s going to make a mess of the roads,” KIRO Newsradio meteorologist Ted Buehner said.

Tuesday night and Wednesday it’s going to get very cold. Highs will only be in the teens and 20s.

Blizzard-like conditions have been continuing on the passes. Check on the latest reports if you have to head out.

The National Weather Service in Seattle said there shouldn’t be much more snow overnight.

A few lingering showers and a weak convergence zone have set up this evening. Expect this to gradually weaken and shift south this evening. Minimal additional snow accumulation is expected. #wawx pic.twitter.com/X21z9PB7zr

— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) December 21, 2022

There have been power outages across the region. Utilities are working to restore power to those without.

In Seattle, buses are on winter routes and some routes have been canceled.

School Closings & Delays

Check out Anacortes this morning! #NickKnows #wawx pic.twitter.com/6KeKpQ3LO6

— Nick Allard (@NickAllardKIRO7) December 20, 2022

Hundreds of flights have been delayed or canceled at SeaTac airport Tuesday. De-icing will be an issue over the next couple of days.

From KIRO 7 chief meteorologist Morgan Palmer’s weatherblog:

The Winter Storm Warning continues for the Cascades into Wednesday morning for snow that continues to cause difficult to impossible pass travel into tomorrow. While the bulk of the snow has fallen, a few more inches of snow are possible mainly in the south Cascades into tonight.

The warnings and advisories have expired for the Western Washington lowlands, but those pertain to precipitation. Now with temperatures mainly below freezing and falling from here, refreezing of moisture on roads and also the hardening/freezing of snow on the ground and on roads will make for icy, hazardous travel well into Wednesday. The main roads that are being treated will fare somewhat better, and some of the most heavily-traveled may eventually dry out, but any drivers anywhere tonight through Wednesday (and really, through Friday) should take it slow and watch for ice – even on main thoroughfares because hazards can remain. Stay home if you can.

A few flurries are possible tonight through Wednesday morning, mainly in the Puget Sound region. This should not add much to accumulations if at all, but it will remain breezy and very cold.

KIRO 7 contributed to this report