Some little snow spells fell in parts of the Northwest’s lower elevations that includes Seattle and Portland, Oregon, metro areas on Monday. As per the weatherman, more snow is on cards for the region initiating from Wednesday night.
The reason for this snowfall can be well attributed to the drop of the season’s coldest air. The air is not just limited to the country’s midsection and the Rockies but is also blowing into the Northwest.
The Met Department has also issued winter storm alert for parts of the Northwest including Portland, from late Wednesday night through Thursday afternoon. This indicates the possibility of some more snow along with snow and ice accretion.
Motorists have been warned of the freezing weather and are advised to be cautious against traveling. Thereafter, the weather system will take a brief break before another frontal system may make its appearance on Wednesday until Thursday night. This is likely to bring another period of heavy showers.
Once the cold and subfreezing air takes its place, it is quite difficult for it to extricate even near the Pacific coast. This is the main reason that the rain that will fall on Wednesday continuing until Thursday will start as snow along with the possibility of some sleet or rain.
However, if the subfreezing air near the Puget Sound and Willamette Valley happens to fall later, there are greater chances of snow or ice potential then.
As of now, snow ranging from two to one inch are likely to accrue which might cause travel disruptions along parts of the Interstate-5 corridor on Thursday. This might lead to more snow along with some ice accumulation in lower elevations. The hilly suburbs of Seattle and Portland, Oregon will be battered by more snow.
On an average, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Sea-Tac, in other words, receives 5.6 inches of snow annually. However, the last measurable snow that Sea-Tac witnessed was 0.8 inches approx. two years back.
Image Credit: KNKX
