A woman crosses the road in rainy Seattle, Washington.
Rosanna U/Getty Images/Image SourceWith the official start of winter arriving in a few days, Seattle is feeling the change of seasons.
The National Weather Service‘s (NWS) Sunday morning report included dangerous avalanche conditions, gusty winds, rain/snow mix possible in the lowlands and potential river flooding.
On Sunday, the lowlands will see overall dry conditions with a few scattered showers tapering out. Winds are predicted at 15-25 miles per hour in western Whatcom County, along the San Juans and the northern coast. Gusts up to 40 miles per hour are possible at times in these areas. Minor flooding on the Skokomish River at Potlach will continue, but should recede by late this morning.
A front will stall along the WA/OR border today with dry weather expected across much of western WA. Temps in the 40s this afternoon with sunbreaks #wawx pic.twitter.com/Q6rov5wqg7
— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) December 19, 2021
Dangerous avalanche conditions persist on slopes 35 degrees and steeper. Conditions are prime for human-triggered events, so make conscious choices when heading out to participate in winter sports and give the snowpack the time it needs to adjust.
On Monday, a new system will move into the region. King County and areas north may experience a rain/snow mix in the lowland areas, but no accumulation is expected on roadways. Light snow accumulation is possible for the lowlands east of the Olympics, mainly on the Kitsap Peninsula, Hood Canal and on the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca. These accumulations will only measure 1 inch or less.
NWS expects this active pattern to continue, with cold and wet conditions lasting through the week. Later in the week, temperatures are predicted to dip below average, bringing a cooler-than-normal Christmas.