Back-to-back storms offer no break for northwestern US
The northwestern United States will not catch a break from unsettled weather as more rain and snow is in store this week.
A storm will press inland into Monday, followed by a second storm on Tuesday. By Thursday, a third storm will be in the offing.
The storm into Monday will be the coldest of the bunch and has made the most progress southward across California.
Snow piling up across the Cascades will lead to further dangers for travelers venturing over the mountain passes.
“Reduced visibility will make travel especially treacherous through the passes,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Kyle Brown said. “Into this week, there will also be times of slow travel along Snoqualmie and Santiam passes in the Cascades.”
Snow into Monday morning may not be confined to the highest peaks. The coastal ranges of Washington and Oregon and even along Interstate 5 could see rain mix with or change to snow for a time.
Similar to what happened in some lower elevations early Sunday morning, rain can mix with or change to snow Sunday night into Monday morning in Seattle and Portland, Oregon.
"The best chance for the snow to leave a quick coating to 2 inches and slushy roads will be in the hills around Seattle and Portland, but if the snow comes down hard enough, snow may even whiten downtown parts of these cities," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski said.
It only takes a thin coating of snow on roadways to heighten the risk of car pileups. Motorists should allot extra time to reach their destinations and reduce highway speeds.
After any snow to start the day, the I-5 will remain chilly with additional rain showers on Monday. An isolated number of the showers here and along the Northwest coast can produce small hail.
“The next storm arriving on Tuesday will be moving in from the south, which will bring a warmer air mass and rising snow levels to the region,” Brown said.
Aside from the far northernmost reaches of the state, California will be spared the storm’s impacts. The brunt of the rain will soak coastal Washington and Oregon. Heavy snow will further bury the Cascades.
Winds will pack a punch along the coast and threaten to down trees and power lines.
The threat for flooding will heighten through the week as rising temperatures trigger snow melt and possible ice jams.
The wet pattern through early March is a continuation of a stormy start to 2017 across the Northwest.
Precipitation totals in Seattle and Portland are running at least 4 inches above average since Jan. 1.
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