WEST SEATTLE WEATHER UPDATE: New ‘Winter Storm Watch’ for Thursday/Friday

2016-12-06-16-20-11

FIRST REPORT, 7:14 PM: Beautiful sunset tonight – thanks to RS for the view from Constellation Park. The sky’s mostly clear and the temperature’s dropping, so it’ll be a cold morning, but you might be wondering, when’s the next chance of snow? The latest “forecast discussion” from the National Weather Service suggests Thursday afternoon/evening, and maybe toward the end of the weekend, though that’s far-enough out that it’s still “super-speculative.” No official alerts for any of this right now, though.

8:43 PM: Thanks to the commenter who pointed out that the NWS has just issued a Winter Storm Watch. Excerpt:

…WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SEATTLE HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING.

* TIMING…A WEATHER SYSTEM WILL MOVE FROM SOUTH TO NORTH OVER WESTERN WASHINGTON ON THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT. COLD AIR WILL BE IN PLACE AT THE SURFACE WHEN PRECIPITATION BEGINS. THE PRECIPITATION IS LIKELY TO BEGIN AS SNOW…THEN CHANGE TO RAIN. AROUND 12 HOURS OF SNOWFALL IS POSSIBLE AT MOST LOCATIONS IN THE INTERIOR LOWLANDS. FOUR INCHES OR MORE OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE. THE HOOD CANAL AREA…WHERE STRONG EAST WINDS WILL ADD AN UPSLOPE COMPONENT TO THE SNOW…COULD GET SEVEN INCHES OR MORE. THE ONSET OF SNOW…AND THE CHANGE TO RAIN…WILL BE EARLIER IN THE SOUTH AND LATER IN THE NORTH. BY FRIDAY MORNING IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT SNOW WILL HAVE CHANGED TO RAIN EVERYWHERE.

14 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE WEATHER UPDATE: New 'Winter Storm Watch' for Thursday/Friday"

  • Ryan December 6, 2016 (8:36 pm)

    Winter Storm Watch just issued

    • WSB December 6, 2016 (8:42 pm)

      Thanks – I was going to check at 9 pm when the evening forecast is usually issued – appreciate the early warning!

      • Theresa - Highland Park December 7, 2016 (8:13 am)

        How often and when does the Weather Service update their forecast?  Thanks!  

        • WSB December 7, 2016 (8:20 am)

          Four times a day – roughly around 9 am, 3 pm, 9 pm, 3 am (with up to an hour’s variation most of the time). But warnings/watches/other alerts could be issued at any time – like this one, around 8 pm. – TR

  • Christine December 6, 2016 (9:15 pm)

    Do you think flights will be cancelled? 

    • 22blades December 7, 2016 (6:45 am)

      Yes. it’s a matter of economics for the airlines & airport. It doesn’t snow enough here to justify equipping like some snowy place. Anything more than a dusting in SEA, they often run out of de-icing fluid or trucks. Landing aircraft will be “metered” to the one, maybe to runways that are plowed.  the whole mess “snowballs” if the carriee has a hub here.

      Go early, be flexibal. Oh, & another thing, please be patient & kind. The workers, as well as fellow travellers, aren’t having a fun time either.

  • H December 6, 2016 (9:35 pm)

    Brrrrr!

  • John Q Lincoln December 6, 2016 (10:38 pm)

    Another big nothing I’m sure.  

    • Buckeye1 December 7, 2016 (6:41 am)

      Yup…

  • Buckeye1 December 7, 2016 (6:40 am)

    I think Seattle needs to change their wordage to  “light snow in the forecast”. I’m not sure how a few inches is called a “winter storm watch”??? Go to Cleveland and you can experience a winter storm ;)

    • 22blades December 7, 2016 (7:59 am)

      At least we didn’t have a flaming Cuyahoga to melt it. 🙂

    • Katie December 7, 2016 (8:08 am)

      True enough. Of course Cleveland owns way more snow plows and has a lot fewer people living on mountains. Fewer steep hills too. 

      • Asher McCord December 7, 2016 (12:19 pm)

        Cleveland has hills. Shaker Heights is called that for a reason. 

  • Gina December 7, 2016 (7:34 am)

    Make sure you are stocked up with beer and pizza just in case. 

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