Light snow, cold temps across Puget Sound on Valentine’s Day

Love is in the air, but that’s not all — light snow has fallen across the Puget Sound region for Valentine’s Day.

The colder air moving in from behind the front has led to some heavy pockets of showers and even some scattered thunderstorms, especially in the mountains.

Due to anticipated freezing weather conditions, four Kitsap County Severe Weather Shelters are open today. Hours of operation will be from 6 p.m. until 7 a.m. except as noted for the Kingston location.

A cold front moved through the area Monday and dumped rain over the lowlands and snow in the mountains. There are still pockets of flurries moving around the region.

Coast Guard rescues two from dangerous conditions in Hood Canal

The colder air moving in from behind the front has led to some heavy pockets of showers and even some scattered thunderstorms, especially in the mountain.

South King County, the South Sound and the Cascade foothills were among the areas that saw some significant snowfall. Though Seattle-Tacoma International Airport only received about a half-inch of snow, overnight travelers flying with Alaska Airlines were stuck on the tarmac for hours as their plane was de-iced, only to end up with their flight being canceled.

There was a Winter Storm Warning for the Central Cascades for around 8 to 20 inches of snow, and Winter Weather Advisories for the rest of the Cascades for around 5 to 15 inches of snow.

The snow is also causing some schools to be delayed in such areas as Arlington, Bellevue, Kent, Enumclaw and Federal Way. The Puyallup School District has canceled classes Tuesday. See the full list at this link.

There have also been numerous crashes on area highways amid icy conditions Tuesday morning.

🚨3Car #collision fully blocking northbound I-5 at SR-16 in @CityofTacoma

Troopers and @wsdot_tacoma at the scene. Luckily, only minor injuries. Traffic is getting by on the right shoulder.

⚠️ Expect delays and use alternate routes pic.twitter.com/NXKRVss12z

— Trooper Robert Reyer (@wspd1pio) February 14, 2023

Due to anticipated freezing weather conditions, four Kitsap County Severe Weather Shelters are open Tuesday. Hours of operation will be from 6 p.m. until 7 a.m. except as noted for the Kingston location.

“Wednesday morning will be very cold again in the 20s and 30s with clear skies. It will be another sunny day in the mid-40s. I see a few more clouds on Thursday and Friday as a weak system moves through, but we should be mainly dry overall,” Nick Allard, KIRO 7 meteorologist, said. “There could be a few showers at the coast on Thursday and some very light showers or sprinkles on Friday.”

“This weekend we’ll start dry, but Saturday I see increasing clouds and eventually some light showers late and through Sunday. Highs will be in the upper 40s.” Allard continued.

KIRO 7 contributed to this report