Storm to bring 3-8 inches of snow



Birch Bay, Washington. Credit: Blanca Braun Photography



SEATTLE - Most of Western Washington including the Puget Sound is under a winter storm warning until 4 p.m. Monday. That means snow and winter weather is likely in all areas.

Previous reports suggested the storm would not come until late Sunday evening, but the National Weather Service has moved the start time up to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Thurston and Pierce counties began seeing flakes Sunday afternoon. As much as 3-inches of snow was reported in Puyallup by 8 p.m., with the white stuff still coming down.

Snow break down: 





          "Snow will make roads and surfaces slick, and travel will become difficult, especially for the Monday morning commute," says the National Weather Service.

           


          From Record Rainfall to Snow


          Sunday morning, several towns south of Seattle saw a slight preview of what's to come.

          Q13 News meteorologist Rebecca Stevenson says "steady rain over the south sound, met up with SE wind from the mountain gaps, the result was more cooling to the temperatures and an early round of wet snow in places like Puyallup's South Hill, Kent, parts of Tacoma, south Olympia, Lake Tapps, Renton, and Wilkeson. To name just a few."


          Light snow continues over parts of Whatcom County and the brief respite from freezing rain and wind comes to an end Sunday night.  A Wind Advisory for Whatcom and San Juan counties begins at 4 p.m. for gusts to 55mph.

          The cold air from the north wind will funnel through Puget Sound Sunday, meeting up with a southerly airflow loaded with moisture; these two combined have initiated a winter weather warning for western Washington which extends to 4 p.m. Monday.

          From 4 p.m. tonight through Monday morning, 3 to 8 inches of snow are expected.  Lesser amounts in areas next to Puget Sound and higher amounts on hills and areas away from the water.



          Monday: Morning snow tapers to showers which will mix to rain by noon.  Showers will decrease.  

          There is an indication of a mid-morning Puget Sound Convergence Zone which may bring a fast, furious, snow accumulation across central Puget Sound to the Cascades through early afternoon.

          Cool high temperatures in the low to mid-30s.  

          Tuesday: Snow showers, mixed, and rain Showers continue to decrease. Highs slightly warmer in the low 40s.