Winter Storm Warning Issued for Washington Cascades: Up to 3 Feet of Snow and Blizzard Conditions Expected

Alert Details

The National Weather Service (NWS) Seattle WA has issued a sequence of severe weather alerts for the Washington Cascades. This includes a Winter Weather Advisory, a Blizzard Warning, and a Winter Storm Warning (NWS Alert Type Code: WSW). The alerts indicate a prolonged period of hazardous winter weather with significant snow and wind impacts.

Affected Areas

The primary geographic regions affected include:

• Cascades of Southern King County
• Cascades of Pierce and Lewis Counties

What You Should Do

Residents and travelers in the warning areas are advised to take the following precautions:

• Restrict Travel: Travel should be limited to emergencies only. If you must travel, keep a winter survival kit in your vehicle, including a flashlight, food, and water.
• Stay with Vehicle: If you become stranded, remain with your vehicle to stay safe.
• Prepare for Outages: Strong winds and heavy snow may cause extensive tree damage; residents should prepare for possible power outages.
• Exercise Caution: Slow down and use extreme caution if you must be on the roads.

Expected Conditions

Weather conditions will vary across the alert phases:

• Snow Accumulation: The Winter Weather Advisory expects 8 to 12 inches of additional snow. The Blizzard Warning phase anticipates up to 8 inches, while the final Winter Storm Warning phase predicts heavy snow totaling between 1 and 3 feet.
• Wind and Visibility: During the Blizzard Warning, wind gusts as high as 55 mph are expected. Visibilities may drop below 1/4 mile due to falling and blowing snow.
• Impacts: Travel could become very difficult to impossible due to the combination of heavy snow and high winds.

Timeline

The alert sequence is scheduled as follows:

• Winter Weather Advisory: In effect until 6 PM PDT Wednesday, March 11.
• Blizzard Warning: Effective from 6 PM PDT Wednesday, March 11, to 5 AM PDT Thursday, March 12.
• Winter Storm Warning: Effective from 5 AM PDT Thursday, March 12, until 5 AM PDT Saturday, March 14.