Seattle weather: Possibility of snow and cold temps this weekend

In case you were fooled by days of springlike sunshine, the week’s chilly weather forecast is here to remind us there are still more than six weeks left until the end of winter. 

This weekend might be the time to bundle up on the couch with a heated blanket and a cup of soup because there’s a 90% chance the Western Washington lowlands could see snow accumulation, according to the National Weather Service. How much snow could be seen in Seattle, though, is unclear.

A multiday cold event appeared to be more likely, with temperatures cooling into lows in the 10s and 20s going into early next week. Overnight freezes will likely be starting Saturday night, so it’s also a good time to drip those faucets.

The weather service predicts up to 30 inches of snow could fall by 4 p.m. Saturday at elevations higher than 3,000 feet in the Cascades, including at the Crystal Mountain Ski Area, Stevens Pass and Snoqualmie Pass.

The weather agency issued a winter storm warning for higher elevations, saying travel could be “very difficult to impossible,” and encouraged travelers to have supplies such as flashlights, food and water. 

Mount Rainier and Mount Baker are expected to see the most snow, said National Weather Service forecaster Dana Felton.

Parts of San Juan and Whatcom counties including Bellingham and Friday Harbor could also see 2 to 6 inches of snow between Saturday night and Monday morning, according to the weather service. 

The forecast near Seattle has been “tough to nail down,” Felton said Friday, but the city could expect up to an inch or two of snow, depending on how cold it gets and how strong showers are.

“It’s not going to be constant, and if we do get (snow), it’ll snow for a little bit then stop,” Felton said. “But it’s going to be cold — the coldest air mass of the season by far.”

A rain-snow mix is likely in Seattle and surrounding areas Saturday, with cold snow showers possible Sunday through Thursday. On Monday, Seattle has an 84% chance of getting an inch of snow throughout the day.

The highest chance of snow around Seattle will happen overnight Saturday and Sunday, as temperatures plunge into the upper 20s, forecasters said. The temperatures could also cause moisture on city streets to freeze, making driving more treacherous on Saturday and Sunday mornings, Felton said.

On Saturday, rain and snow is possible between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., though forecasters don’t expect any snow to accumulate. Temperatures will drop into the low 30s and less than a half-inch of snow could accumulate overnight.

Forecasters expect similar conditions Sunday, with temperatures in the 30s and less than a half-inch of snow possible.

Next week could bring colder-than-average temperatures, especially on Tuesday and Wednesday, when highs will peak in the mid-30s, compared to a normal high of 50 degrees this time of year, Felton said. There is a chance of more snow, but cold will be the primary concern, he said.

Avalanche danger will increase through Sunday in the mountains due to heavy snow and older, weak snow surfaces.

Friday marked the end of one of the driest Januarys on record in Seattle, with 1.21 inches of rain for the month. Friday’s rainfall ended the month’s 13-day “dry streak,” the second longest run of dry weather for the month on record. The city saw 15 consecutive dry days in January 1963, according to the weather service.