Winter storms blow through Puget Sound

Forecasters say a series of Pacific storms are lined up to blow into Washington over the next several days with several inches of rain at places in Western Washington and snow by the foot on some parts of the Cascades.

The National Weather Service says a blustery storm Tuesday night will be followed by a weaker system Wednesday.

KING 5 meteorologist Rich Marriott says wind gusts could reach 30 mph over the Puget Sound area, with a possibility of winds reaching 40 mph north of Everett Tuesday evening.

The strongest winds are expected on the coast, where the National Weather Service has issued a warning for winds of 30-40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph Tuesday night.

The Puget Sound area can expect upwards of a half-inch of rain as the storm moves through, says National Weather Service meteorologist Josh Smith.

But the heaviest precipitation will fall in the Cascades, where the NWS has issued a winter weather advisory through Wednesday afternoon.

The heaviest snow is expected in the North Cascades with 8 to 18 inches by Wednesday at Mount Baker. Accumulations of 6 to 12 inches are expected at Stevens Pass and less than 6 inches at Snoqualmie Pass Wednesday.

The NWS has issued an avalanche warning for the Cascades near the west of the Crest and the Mount Hood area Tuesday night and Wednesday.

After a break on Thursday, another strong frontal system is expected Thursday night and Friday into a stormy weekend.

“It’s a lot more normal now,” Smith says. “I’d say this week we can expect a lot more of what we’d think of as typical Seattle-area winter weather.”

The pattern of valley rain and mountain snow will carry through Eastern Washington.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.