Waiting for the big event tomorrow, the forecast today looks very similar to what you experienced yesterday. Lowland showers of rain could mix with snow before sunrise and a few snow showers will pop up along the foothills. The coverage of rain and mountain snow is limited this morning but should pick up and increase by tonight.
Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning the area will see an atmospheric river approach. Snow will increase a bit in the mountains late Tuesday and Tuesday night so pass travel will become potentially difficult.
The main event is our Pinpoint Alert Day Wednesday for increasing rain and wind in the lowlands (gusts 30+mph) in the afternoon and evening hours and very heavy mountain snow. A Blizzard Warning is out for Wednesday’s impacts in the Cascades and Olympics with the worst of the conditions from Wednesday afternoon through early Thursday morning. Two to four feet of snow will fall from early Wednesday through Thursday in the mountains with isolated higher amounts on higher peaks. The passes will be difficult to impossible to traverse during this period, and avalanche danger will be very high. Winds in the mountains will also gust to 40mph or stronger, creating whiteout conditions and blowing and drifting snow.
While this snowfall is extreme, we would need (given location) anywhere from 50-80+ inches of snow to get the snowpack back to “normal” for this time on the calendar. We’re not likely to get back to average with this storm but it will put us much closer! Right now, we’re at our worst snowpack conditions since 2015 or 2005, depending on location.
Avalanche danger will be very high through the end of the week and skiers and boarders should always travel with a buddy and stay out of backcountry areas when the danger is very high.
Some snow will continue in the mountains Thursday and Friday as well, with lowland rainfall. There is some potential for heavier mountain snowfall again on Friday.
By late week, the Skokomish River in Mason County will likely reach flood stage and other rivers will be running high, with the Skookumchuck and Chehalis Rivers in flood stage by Saturday.
The weekend could hold some drier times though some rain chances remain.
It looks markedly warmer next week with the potential for rainfall again, not only in the lowlands but in the mountains too, which could continue river flood potential.
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