Several Inches Of Snow Forecast Across Puget Sound Friday Night

SEATTLE — Get ready, Western Washington: The lowlands are about to see their first significant snowstorm in two years. While some communities picked up a little snow on Thursday, forecasters expect widespread accumulation across Puget Sound beginning Friday night.

According to the National Weather Service's latest timeline, the stronger system should begin to push northward from the southwest after 4 p.m. Friday, arriving in the Seattle metro late in the evening. Forecasters expect the snowfall will linger on through Saturday, bringing several inches of accumulation, especially to areas south of Snohomish County.

The Seattle area has a 70 percent chance of seeing at least 4 inches of snow, while totals in Pierce County may reach even greater heights.

The National Weather Service says some uncertainty in the storm track remains, and there is a chance a "well-defined line" could develop in King County, clearly separating heavy snow and lighter accumulations. Another quirk in the forecast could limit snow amounts in east Puget Sound due to gusty winds flowing through the Cascade gaps. Other areas could see snowfall rates exceeding an inch every hour.

One certainty in the forecast is frigid temperatures, dipping into the low 20s Friday and Saturday mornings, with an added wind chill dipping into the teens. Afternoon highs are unlikely to fare much better, failing to escape the 30s through the weekend.

The National Weather Service is also tracking a potential third storm system Sunday night, which may produce snow before transitioning into a rain-snow mix. Systems next week could pull in even more precipitation, but forecasters said it's still too early to know exactly what to expect.