Heavy snow blankets Western Washington; gusty winds, very cold temperatures expected

It was almost a white Christmas in Seattle.

Most people in the Puget Sound region woke up to snow-covered roads and a white landscape on Sunday, with snow totals between 2 to 5 inches reported throughout King County. 

The National Weather Service (NWS) said in its Sunday morning briefing that modified arctic air will move into the Seattle area on Sunday bringing snow to nearly sea level. Accumulation is expected to reach 1-3 inches and up to 4 inches in slow-moving areas of heavy snow banding or convergence.

A tidal overflow in the Puget Sound and Admiralty Inlet could also cause minor flooding along harbors, shorelines and low-lying coastal roadways around high tide today.

Very cold temperatures will move into the region through the rest of the week NWS said in its briefing. Cold air from Canada is expected to move into Washington on Sunday, dropping high temperatures well below freezing by Monday morning. Low temperatures will fall into the teens, with areas like Whatcom County seeing single-digit lows.

Seattle city leaders opened two overnight severe weather shelters on Saturday evening at Seattle Center’s Exhibition Hall and Compass Housing Alliance’s waterfront building. 

Cold air is expected to linger area-wide through the week, NWS said, with temperatures only gradually moderating.

The Fraser outflow, the system moving into Western Whatcom County from Canada, will also bring gusty northeast winds with frigid temperatures through early Monday. These strong winds have the potential to cause power outages, and tree and powerline damage. Gusts up to 50 miles per hour are possible, NWS said on Sunday.

Dry conditions are expected to arrive with the colder temperatures, which makes additional snowfall unlikely early in the week. As moisture returns later in the week, around Thursday, NWS said additional snowfall could be possible.

Snow accumulations on primary and secondary roadways are causing travel issues all over the Puget Sound area. The Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) said in November that staffing shortages could result in reduced services in plowing roadways, longer closures and lower speed limits. 

Meanwhile, the snow is causing delays at Sea-Tac Airport. Anti-icing and snow removal is ongoing on runways, taxiways and the ramp areas, Sea-Tac Airport tweeted on Sunday. Check your airline on delays or cancellations before you head out. 

While everyone is encouraged to stay home during severe weather, if you must travel, look at transit options. Keep in mind, however, that many services have been transitioned to snow routes. 

This is a developing story and it will be updated.