Blizzard Warning Issued for Washington Cascades as Storms Approach

A powerful storm system is impacting the Pacific Northwest, bringing heavy rain to lower elevations and several feet of snow to the Washington Cascades. A Blizzard Warning is in effect for the Cascade Mountains, with dangerous travel conditions expected through Thursday morning. The lowlands are bracing for heavy rainfall and gusty winds, potentially leading to localized flooding and power outages.

Blizzard Warning Details

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a Blizzard Warning for the Cascade Mountains, beginning Wednesday evening and extending through 5:00 a.m. Thursday. The criteria for a Blizzard Warning include substantial snowfall, winds exceeding 35 mph, and visibility of less than a quarter of a mile, all sustained for at least three hours. KING 5 News reports that this is only the seventh Blizzard Warning issued by NWS Seattle, with four occurring in the last two years.

Snow accumulations of 1 to 3 feet are possible in the mountains over the course of the week, with 8 to 12 inches expected during the day on Wednesday. The Olympics are also under a Blizzard Warning, with potential accumulations of up to 4 inches of snow and wind gusts up to 60 mph. FOX 13 Seattle notes that visibility on roadways could drop below a quarter mile due to falling and blowing snow.

Lowland Impacts: Rain and Wind

Western Washington lowlands will experience widespread rain and gusty winds. A Wind Advisory is in effect from 3 p.m. Wednesday to 6 a.m. Thursday, with wind gusts potentially reaching 50 mph. Sustained southwest winds of 25-30 mph are also expected, with the strongest winds anticipated between 8-11 p.m. Wednesday. MSN reports that coastal areas could see gusts up to 55 mph.

Storm Timeline

• Wednesday: A stronger, warmer system will move into western Washington, bringing gusty winds up to 50 mph and heavy rain to the lowlands. Snow levels will rise to 2,500-3,000 feet, potentially reaching 4,000-5,000 feet in the evening.
• Thursday – Friday: The initial system will move through by Thursday morning, with a brief respite before another system arrives, bringing additional precipitation.
• Saturday – Sunday: A ridge of high pressure is expected to bring drier conditions to the lowlands and mountains on Saturday. A warm front will arrive Sunday, bringing more rain and raising snow levels to 5,000 feet.

Precipitation Totals

Through Friday, the region is expected to receive:

• Lowlands: 1 to 3 inches of rain
• Coastal areas and the Olympics: 2 to 4 inches of rain
• Mountains: 2 to 5 feet of snow

Travel Concerns and Avalanche Danger

Travel through the mountain passes could develop into incredibly difficult or impossible, with temporary road closures possible. The warming temperatures and heavy snow create a high avalanche danger on the western slopes of the Cascades. Kitsap Sun highlights the potential for dangerous travel conditions.