Chance of January snow in Seattle continues to build
Jan 6, 2020, 8:01 AM | Updated: 8:37 am
(MyNorthwest file photo)
(MyNorthwest file photo)
After the possibility of January snow entered the picture last week, those forecasts are quickly solidifying.
Seattle winter could be much snowier than usual
“Snow continues to look likely in the Seattle area, especially in the overnight hours, beginning next Sunday,” said Seattle Weather Blog’s Justin Shaw.
As of publishing, the Seattle forecast for the next week-plus calls for mixed rain and snow showers beginning Sunday, Jan. 12, following by snow showers on each of the next six days as temperatures drop into the low 30s.
That’s all being driven by what the National Weather Service labels “very cold arctic air” in British Columbia. The NWS’s own long-term forecast surmises that this “arctic front” could go any number of ways; it could remain in BC, get shoved out of the east Cascades, or even drop south across Western Washington.
If it does arrive in Washington, the possibility of snow would then depend on there being enough moisture in the air. That’s a pattern University of Washington Professor of Atmospheric Sciences Cliff Mass likens to “gasoline without the match.”
“Plenty cold enough for snow. All that is needed is moisture,” he said in a recent blog post.
Snow beginning to show up in Seattle forecast for January
As for how heavy any potential snow would be, Shaw notes that it’s “near impossible to say this far out,” although we’d most likely get “lighter amounts. He also sees no signs that we’ll get anything close to the historical snowstorms we saw last February.
For now, though, we’ll have to wait and see.
“[It] will be important to monitor this forecast in the coming days should moisture and cold temps appear more significant together,” said the NWS.
Meanwhile, a National Weather Warning is in effect for Snoqualmie Pass, with the Washington State Department of Transportation warning drivers to expect “a very challenging day for travel.” Up to 20 inches of new snow could fall in the pass before the day is done. You can monitor mountain pass webcams here for updates.
