Seattle weather: Potential for weekend snow as temperatures stay chilly

Cooling conditions forecast starting on Friday with light precipitation bring the potential for — gasp! — snow in Seattle this weekend.

Between 4 a.m. Saturday and 4 a.m. Sunday, there’s a 27% chance Seattle could see at least 1 inch of snow, and a 15% chance the city could see 2 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service briefing issued Monday.

It’s not a sure thing yet, but the NWS says the forecast grows “increasingly interesting” starting on Friday. A weather pattern that will likely hang over the Northwest for several days may pull cold air out of Canada, but confidence is still shaky in whether low-altitude areas could actually get any snow.

“Obviously, models and forecasts will need to be monitored in the days ahead to get a better feeling as to if, when and how much snow may fall in the lowlands,” the weather service posted in a forecast discussion Tuesday.

The cold snap has kept Seattle sunny and brisk for several days, but the sun can’t hang around forever. (Well, maybe it does some places. But Seattle wouldn’t know).

Chilly conditions are expected to continue through Wednesday, and on Thursday a slightly warmer and wet system will move in. Showers are likely on Thursday, with high temperatures in the upper 40s.

Our first glimpse of a winter wonderland could be Friday night, as overnight lows dip into the lower to mid 30s. Most of Saturday appears to be favoring rain, but by Saturday night it’s probable snow will move into much of Western Washington.

There’s a wide range of potential conditions Sunday through Wednesday next week, anywhere from slightly above normal temperatures to a multiday extreme cold event.

Between 4 a.m. Sunday and 4 a.m. Monday, there’s a 44% chance Seattle could see at least 1 inch of snow. In Bellingham, there’s a 50% chance; in Olympia, a 42% chance; and in North Bend, a 60% chance.

A rain-snow mix is likely on Sunday, with the chance for snow persisting into Monday.

Assessing the timing and amount of precipitation the region might see next week is difficult this early on, though. Regardless, the pattern shows “quite cold temperatures lingering through much of next week,” according to the weather service.