Light snow in WA lowlands creates slushy Friday morning commute
Mar 13, 2026, 5:46 AM | Updated: 2:58 pm
Some Seattle residents woke up to light snowfall and slushy road conditions on Friday morning.
A round of wintry weather moved through western Washington early Friday, bringing brief snowfall to some lowland areas before slightly warmer temperatures began turning most of the precipitation back to rain, according to KIRO 7.
Forecasters said the difference between seeing snow or just rain largely came down to small changes in temperature. Morning readings across much of the region hovered between about 34 and 37 degrees. Locations closer to the mid-30s were more likely to see snow mixing in, while slightly warmer spots experienced only rain.
A snowy Friday morning in Tacoma! #wawx pic.twitter.com/ICxPV9LI8l
— KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM🎙 (@KIRONewsradio) March 13, 2026
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Marginal temperatures brought brief snowfall to some western Washington lowlands
Snow levels dropped low enough that flakes could fall in areas below about 500 feet in elevation around the Puget Sound region. In many places, the snow was not expected to stick for long.
Some grassy areas or cooler spots could pick up light accumulation, but meteorologists said most snow in the lowlands should melt quickly as temperatures rise later in the day.
Even without widespread accumulation, the slushy mix could create slick conditions, especially on bridges and overpasses where temperatures tend to run colder. Drivers are urged to use caution during the morning commute.
By the afternoon, warmer temperatures should turn most of the precipitation in the lowlands back to rain.
‘It’s just gorgeous’: Tacoma resident describes snow-covered neighborhood
Maxine Frost of Tacoma watched the medium-sized flakes fall from her home, transforming her neighborhood into a winter scene more fitting for December than mid-March.
“Everything is thickly covered,” Frost said. “It’s like Christmas.”
Frost said she could see tire tracks on her street, but not many, and the neighborhood had gone quiet.
The cherry blossom tree in her front yard was dusted with white.
“You can see the pink blossoms under the white snow,” Frost said. “It’s just gorgeous.”
Despite that, Frost is ready for winter to be over.
“I’m sort of done with the cold and the wind and the rain,” Frost said. “This late in the season, I’m like, ‘let’s get some spring going!’ This is a little too much.”
Even her cat, she said, was unsettled by the unusual sight.
“The cat’s freaking out,” she said. “The cat’s never seen anything like this.”
Frost is the wife of KIRO News Director Frank Lenzi.
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