A big blast of winter comes howling into Western Washington
Jan 8, 2024, 10:44 AM | Updated: Jan 9, 2024, 8:27 am
Conditions continue to deteriorate in the mountain passes. (Photo: WSDOT)
(Photo: WSDOT)
Winds came roaring through Western Washington overnight Monday with gusts in the lowlands up to 45 mph.
Those winds were accompanied by heavy rains causing power outages to 4,000 Seattle Light Customers.
Truck drivers getting a helping hand up as the sun comes up over Snoqualmie Pass.
It’s a biting 28 degrees up here.
Snow looks powdery, and I’ve already run into multiple people chasing this blizzard warning — here to ski on the “steep and deep.” pic.twitter.com/0hKJnYP7to
— Sam Campbell (@HeySamCampbell) January 9, 2024
“For those who have wanted more winter-like weather, your wish is coming true this week,” said Ted Buehner, KIRO Newsradio meteorologist.
A wind advisory will continue until 10 p.m. Tuesday and a second front bringing more of the same will move through the region.
Blizzard-like conditions over our mountain passes this morning. Be aware of this if you’re planning a trip over Snoqualmie/Stevens/White Passes today or tomorrow. Follow @SnoqualmiePass @WSDOT_East and @wsdot_passes (auto-tweets only) for updates. https://t.co/CVrxvKAis2
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 9, 2024
Driving conditions over the passes will continue to be treacherous at best and impossible at worst. Accidents were aplenty on Monday.
More weather news: Snow, cold snaps coming to mountains: Will Puget Sound see the same?
Widespread cold will continue as the week marches on. Until then, Western Washington’s high temperatures will be in the 40s, with overnight lows ranging from the mid-30s to lower 40s.
“In the wake of this strong weather system during the first half of this week, a more northerly flow pattern is expected to develop starting Thursday that will introduce colder air pouring out of the Fraser River Canyon from the interior of Western Canada,” Buehner explained. “Temperatures for the latter part of the week will drop, with highs only in the 30s and lows tumbling into the 20s in many locations.”
The chances of an inch or more of snow in the lowlands will be 40-60% by the end of the week.
A winter storm will bring blizzard conditions to the higher terrain of the Pacific Northwest through Wednesday. Elsewhere across the West, heavy snow is likely, with light accumulations even possible in the lowlands and valleys. pic.twitter.com/8XdriGVh2E
— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) January 9, 2024
By this weekend, a Pacific weather system with milder moist air is expected to approach the region and has the potential of spreading moisture up and over the resident colder air, providing the possibility of an interesting wintry mix of weather.
Follow Ted Buehner, the KIRO FM news meteorologist, on Twitter
