Top Headlines

Feeds

Mixed Rain, Low‑Elevation Snow and Weak Snowpack Threaten Western Washington This Week

Updated (14 articles)
  • The wheel of a car on an icy road.
    The wheel of a car on an icy road.
    Image: King5 (Seattle, WA)
    The wheel of a car on an icy road. (Credit: snapshotfreddy - stock.adobe.com) Source Full size
  • A look at the snow depth at key locations in the Cascades as of Feb. 15.
    A look at the snow depth at key locations in the Cascades as of Feb. 15.
    Image: King5 (Seattle, WA)
    A look at the snow depth at key locations in the Cascades as of Feb. 15. (Credit: KING) Source Full size
  • A look at the snow depth at key locations in the Cascades as of Feb. 15.
    A look at the snow depth at key locations in the Cascades as of Feb. 15.
    Image: King5 (Seattle, WA)
    A look at the snow depth at key locations in the Cascades as of Feb. 15. (Credit: KING) Source Full size
  • None
    None
    Image: King5 (Seattle, WA)
    Credit: KING Source Full size

Thursday’s Mixed Rain‑Wet‑Snow Showers Set Early‑Week Tone Morning rain and wet‑snow will give way to afternoon sunbreaks across the Puget Sound region, with highs in the upper 30s‑low 40s and snow levels climbing from 300‑500 ft to 500‑700 ft; Friday will turn partly sunny but remain cool, lows dropping to the upper 20s‑mid 30s and highs staying in the low‑mid 40s [1]. Saturday may deliver 1‑2 inches of wet snow along Hood Canal, western Kitsap Peninsula and southwest Washington before changing to rain, while snow levels rise to near 1,500 ft and highs reach the mid‑upper 40s [1]. Sunday‑Monday continue rain with mountain snow as snow levels rise to 2,000‑3,000 ft, keeping lows in the upper 30s‑low 40s and highs in the upper 40s‑low 50s [1].

Lowland Snow Bursts Hit Snohomish, King and Pierce Counties Wednesday evening into Thursday, brief snow showers fell at elevations as low as 300‑400 ft in Bothell and Maltby, prompting a two‑hour delay for Granite Falls schools and a Wednesday cancellation [2]. Snow levels hover between 500‑1,000 ft through Friday with only minimal accumulation expected, leaving roadways mostly slushy rather than snow‑covered [2]. Earlier spotty snow affected Marysville, Lake Stevens, the Olympic Peninsula and trace amounts at Sea‑Tac, all melting quickly [2].

Statewide Snowpack Lags at About 65 % of Normal Mid‑February measurements show the Cascades holding roughly two‑thirds of average snow, but elevations between 3,000‑5,000 ft are only at 40 % of typical depth, raising concerns for summer water storage [3]. Snoqualmie Pass records the deepest deficit , while Paradise on Mt Rainier and Mt Baker remain closer to normal, and models predict additional snowfall despite winds limiting storm capture [3]. Dry winter patterns echo past El Niño‑linked seasons , with a weak La Niña now shifting toward neutral, suggesting a 50‑60 % chance of a weak El Niño next winter [3].

Wednesday Lowland Snow Possible as Snow Levels Drop to 500 ft Meteorologists expect snow to reach low elevations, with levels between 500‑1,000 ft through the week and sub‑freezing overnight lows through Friday [4]. Rain‑snow mix may affect Kitsap Peninsula, Hood Canal and coastal foothills , creating slick roads when precipitation pauses and temperatures fall [4]. Mountains will add 6‑12 inches of snow by week’s end , while Arctic air keeps temperatures low, raising snow levels to about 1,500 ft by Saturday and reducing further lowland snow chances [4].

Sources

Timeline

1976‑77, 1980‑81, 2014‑15 winters – Strong El Niño events produce historically low snowpacks across the West, mirroring the current drought and raising concerns for spring streamflow and water supplies[5].

Dec 17, 2025 – Winds ease and a cooler pattern settles over western Washington, delivering 5‑10 inches of snow at Snoqualmie and Stevens Pass and an approaching atmospheric river that adds half an inch of rain to lowlands and 1‑2 inches to mountain slopes[14].

Dec 19, 2025 – Warm weather and record‑high November temperatures in Oregon, Idaho and western Colorado limit snow accumulation, force Lake Tahoe lifts to operate at minimal capacity, and shift precipitation from snow to rain, threatening regional water supplies and wildfire risk[13].

Dec 19, 2025 – The Midway Ice Castles in Utah are postponed indefinitely as temperatures stay 7‑10 °F above normal, while torrential rain floods roads in the Northwest and the Deschutes Basin records its slowest snow start since 1981[2].

Dec 20, 2025 – Heavy mountain snow returns to the Cascades before Christmas, with Stevens Pass topping 18 inches and Snoqualmie Pass around 10 inches, prompting travel warnings and advice to avoid Sunday‑night mountain passes[12].

Dec 27, 2025 – Light snow lingers in the Puget Sound convergence zone, depositing up to 2 inches in Snohomish and King counties and about 10 inches at Snoqualmie Pass, then a dry, cold‑night ridge holds through New Year’s Eve before a warming system arrives late Wednesday or Thursday[10].

Dec 27, 2025 – A Winter Weather Advisory warns that snow levels will drop to ~2,500 ft on Friday, bringing 6‑12 inches of snow to Cascade passes and a rain‑snow mix to lowlands, and urges travelers to check conditions and carry emergency kits before Saturday travel[11].

Jan 8, 2026 – A colder system drives snow levels down to 500 ft overnight across western Washington, creating spotty low‑elevation wet‑snow or rain‑snow mixes to sea level Thursday morning, while a Winter Storm Warning promises an additional 2‑4 feet of mountain snow[9].

Jan 9, 2026 – A persistent ridge of high pressure produces a western‑U.S. snow drought, delivering record‑warm December temperatures in Arizona, thinning Utah’s snowpack and jeopardizing the 2034 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, while Colorado River water supplies face heightened risk[1].

Jan 29, 2026 – Cascade Mountains snowpack remains far below normal despite recent snowfall; Oregon’s snowpack ranks second‑lowest since 1981, and deficits in central and southern Cascades threaten spring streamflow and water storage[8].

Feb 4, 2026 – Skiers at Snoqualmie Pass encounter spring‑like conditions as snowpack falls below 50 % of normal, Mount Hood Skibowl halts operations, and Climate Central’s Shel Winkley labels the situation the worst snow drought on record, raising alarms for water resources and fire risk[7].

Feb 17, 2026 – Snow levels drop to ~500 ft, allowing low‑land snow or sleet across the Kitsap Peninsula and coastal foothills, with slick roads possible during breaks in precipitation and mountains expected to add 6‑12 inches of snow by week’s end[6].

Feb 18, 2026 – Washington’s snowpack sits at roughly 65 % of normal, with Snoqualmie Pass hardest hit, while milder BC snowpack may modestly offset Columbia Basin needs; models forecast more snow but prevailing winds limit capture, and a weak La Niña shifts toward neutral, giving a 50‑60 % chance of a weak El Niño next winter[5].

Feb 19, 2026 – Spotty low‑elevation snow bursts across Snohomish, King and Pierce counties on Wednesday‑Thursday, depositing snow at 300‑400 ft in Bothell and Maltby, delaying schools in Granite Falls, and keeping snow levels between 500‑1,000 ft through Friday[4].

Feb 19, 2026 – The Puget Sound outlook calls for mixed rain and wet‑snow showers Thursday, 1‑2 inches of wet snow in the Hood Canal area Saturday, and 1‑2 ft of mountain snow accumulation through mid‑next week as snow levels rise to 2,000‑3,000 ft[3].

Winter 2026‑27 – Forecast models assign a 50‑60 % probability of a weak El Niño developing next winter, a pattern that could alter precipitation types and potentially improve snowpack after the current drought[5].

Dive deeper (3 sub-stories)

All related articles (14 articles)

External resources (12 links)