Blizzard Warning Issued for Washington Cascades: Up to 4 Feet of Snow and High Winds Expected

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Seattle, WA, has issued a Blizzard Warning (BZW) for the mountain regions of Western Washington. This alert is part of a series of hazardous weather notifications including a Winter Storm Warning, a Winter Weather Advisory, and a Winter Storm Watch.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically impacts the following geographic regions:

• Cascades of Whatcom and Skagit Counties
• Cascades of Snohomish and Northern King Counties

What You Should Do

Residents and travelers are advised to restrict travel to emergencies only. If you must travel, ensure you have a winter survival kit in your vehicle. If you become stranded, stay with your vehicle. Residents should also prepare for the possibility of power outages and monitor the latest forecasts for updates. Use extreme caution and slow down if you are on the roads.

Expected Conditions

• Snow Accumulation: Total snow accumulations between 2 and 4 feet are possible during the blizzard period. This follows additional accumulations of 6 to 11 inches during the initial Winter Storm Warning and 2 to 4 inches during the advisory period.
• Wind: Gusts are expected to reach as high as 40 mph, with the strongest winds peaking Wednesday evening into late Wednesday night.
• Visibility: Blowing and falling snow may reduce visibilities to below 1/4 mile.
• Impacts: Travel could become difficult to impossible. Gusty winds may bring down tree branches and cause power interruptions.

Timeline

• Winter Storm Warning: In effect until 5 AM PDT Tuesday.
• Winter Weather Advisory: In effect from 5 AM to 5 PM PDT Tuesday.
• Blizzard Warning: In effect from 5 PM Tuesday to 11 PM PDT Wednesday.
• Winter Storm Watch: In effect from Wednesday evening through Friday morning.