With snow in the forecast, some Western Washington schools sending students home early



SEATTLE -- Snow is heading for Western Washington, and forecasters say you should expect cold weather for at least the next two weeks. Several school districts are sending students home early on Thursday - check the full list here.

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 4 p.m. Thursday through 8 a.m. Friday.

Q13 Meteorologist M.J. McDermott is timing out the snow event. Temperatures will keep our temperatures below freezing for most with an icy morning commute. Treat this storm as a very “slick driving” situation through Friday morning.

"The South Interior (Lewis, Thurston and Pierce Counties) is likely to get snow 3-4 p.m. this afternoon. The Central Sound (King, Kitsap Counties) will probably get snow 5-7 p.m. North Interior (Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, Clallam Counties) gets snow late in the evening. It could take until Midnight for Bellingham to get the snow," McDermott said.


    Meteorologist Walter Kelley said along I-5 not much snow - close to 1 inch. High hills 2 inches. Foothills above 1000 feet 3 -5 inches.

    Hood Canal will be the worst with 6 or more inches, Kelley said. THE MOUNTAINS GET TONS AND TONS Thursday night through Sunday morning. This will create delays and closures this weekend up on the Passes.

    Very windy for the foothills tonight through Thursday. Gusts to 45mph there.

    Because of these East winds, places like Bellevue and Issaquah get small amounts of snow.


      Here's an overview of M.J.'s weekend forecast:

      FRIDAY: We could start out with a little rain/snow mix during the morning commute — especially on hills and in the foothills of the Cascades.  But tomorrow will be mostly rainy as we warm up to the low 40s.

      SATURDAY: Morning rain changes to afternoon showers, low/mid 40s.  Still getting some good mountain snow.

      SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain showers.