Snow showers dust Seattle, with more flurries on the way

Brace yourselves, Seattle. The forecast is calling for days of snow.

So, as Frank Sinatra once crooned, it’s time to grab your corn for popping and dim the lights down low.

The snowfall in Seattle began around noon Saturday. It was brief, globby and melted fast, but the dusting might be just the beginning.

Seattle’s National Weather Service forecasts a 70% chance of overnight snow Saturday into Sunday at sea level. There’s a 90% chance of snow with some rain showers Sunday. Monday will likely see some flakes, with an 80% chance of snow.

However, Seattleites, you might want to hold off on rushing to the store for Frosty’s corn cob pipe, button nose and coal eyes.

“The probability of at least seeing at least an inch of snowfall is high for the region, but we’re not expecting widespread major impacts with heavy snow probabilities,” NWS Meteorologist Jeff Michalski said.

Michalski said areas closer to Tacoma and Olympia might get more snow.

The NWS predicted 3 to 5 inches of fresh snow in the Cascade Mountains by Saturday night, and the Whatcom County lowlands could see up to 6 inches by Monday. Meteorologist Logan Howard said Canadian winds will arrive Monday morning. Howard said measuring snowfall near Seattle will be tricky due to the snow-rain mix.

Temperatures will creep down the thermometer, with daytime highs this weekend in the 40s on Saturday and Sunday and nighttime lows in the 30s. Monday brings a cold front, with highs in the upper 30s through Wednesday.

Michalski’s main concern is black ice forming Sunday night into Monday morning as temperatures drop.

“So if there were any melting of any snowfall or precipitation or whatnot, it would likely refreeze overnight,” he said. “So that could be a potential issue for black ice concerns and whatnot.”

Black ice usually forms overnight into the early morning. The U.S. Forest Service recommends drivers be vigilant and practice driving on slippery surfaces, if possible.

If you encounter black ice, avoid braking and keep the wheel straight, the Forest Service advises. If you slide, steer gently into the spin.