Teetering Between Snow and Rain

With temperatures hovering just above freezing, it has been a classic rain/snow mix around the Puget Sound lowlands this morning.  While many of you have yet to see a flake of snow in the air, others have managed to pick up some snow in their neighborhood.  Areas away from the water like Puyallup, Graham, Enumclaw, and Buckley picked some snow accumulation last night.  To the north around Sedro-Woolley some snow was sticking to the ground causing school buses to run on a snow route.  One of our viewers in Buckley sent in a great picture.  They had the tape measure out, showing an inch of accumulation outside their home. 

So far this morning the snow has been focused around the north sound and along the Cascade foothills. Areas like North Bend and Snoqualmie have been seeing some flakes fly.  A Puget Sound Convergence Zone has been hanging out around Snohomish, Skagit, and Island Counties through the morning.  Looking at the picture of StormTracker from late this morning, you can see the showers focused in those areas.  The convergence zone is bringing heavier showers that have included snow mixing in with the rain.  Areas like Mill Creek and Everett have been experiencing that on and off all morning.  The reason why this snow is fairly wet is because surface temperatures have been hovering in the mid to upper 30s.  Despite being above the freezing mark, those heavy showers can drag the snow down to the surface. 

This will be the trend through the afternoon.  Scattered rain/snow mix showers will continue, with slushy accumulation possible on some of the roads toward the foothills. 

Lowland Snow Chance Not Over Yet

If you’re a snow fan and live around the south sound, you are likely pretty disappointed with this latest storm.  It has been dry around Tacoma and Olympia this morning, but I’m here to tell you that you shouldn’t give up hope just yet.  The latest computer forecast models are showing a batch of moisture moving in toward the south sound later this evening.  With temperatures dropping, we will be cold enough to support snow across the area.  This moisture hangs out through Saturday morning, so I am leaving the chance of some snow showers in the forecast.  The best chance tonight and tomorrow morning will be from Seattle southward.  Areas along the Cascade foothills from Graham to Carnation will have the best shot at seeing accumulation. 

Even if you don’t see snow tonight or tomorrow, everybody will be getting cold.  Temperatures are forecast to fall below freezing with low 30s and 20s, so any standing water will be turning to ice.  If you’re hitting the roads tomorrow morning, look out for black ice. 

We will see this storm push out Saturday afternoon, allowing us to dry out.  Sunday stays dry with warmer air working in; temperatures rebound back into the balmy mid to low 40s.  We will be out of the freeze zone early next week, but there looks to be heavy rain on the way that may cause some flooding concerns for our local rivers early next week. 

November is alive and well!    

As always, we’ll keep you updated here on www.kirotv.com. Have a great weekend!   

-Sam Argier, KIRO 7 Morning Meteorologist