Snow to blanket Seattle, I-5 region in Washington into Monday
Just enough cold air will remain in place for locally heavy, accumulating snow to continue to fall along the Interstate 5 corridor in Washington into Monday afternoon.
The snow will be wet, slushy and difficult to remove.
Wet snow is clinging to trees, causing limbs to sag and break. Power outages will continue occur as a result.
As of 9 a.m. PST Monday, more than 100,000 utility customers were without power, according to Puget Sound Energy.
A portion of I-90 was closed in both directions through the Cascades due to the risk of avalanches on Monday, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.
"For the duration of the storm into Monday afternoon, mostly rain with some wet snow will occur at sea level," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Eric Leister. "For the duration of this storm, the precipitation will also become more showery in nature."
Temperatures at or just above the freezing mark will cause rain to mix in at times elsewhere in the I-5 corridor.
However, even where a combination of rain and snow occurs, roads will be slippery, especially on bridges and overpasses.
Around the Seattle are, from 1 to 8 inches of snow is likely with the greatest amounts over non-paved surfaces in the hilly areas.
A very heavy amount of snow will fall along the western base of the Cascades and in part of the Coast Ranges, where 1 to 2 feet of snow can accumulate.
Farther south, it will take a bit longer for snow to reach Portland, Oregon.
"The Portland, Oregon, area has received a rain and snow mix thus far, but the storm can end as a period of snow on Monday," Leister said. "From 1 to 2 inches of slush can occur, but with more over the higher elevations surrounding the city."
Temperatures will rise enough during Monday midday and afternoon to allow any precipitation that falls to take the form of rain. The accumulated wet snow will melt as a result.
After a break in the storms during Monday night into Wednesday morning, a warmer, but potent storm will swing in from the Pacific Ocean beginning Wednesday afternoon and evening.
Report a Typo
