Heavy winds swirling through Western WA, expected through afternoon

Winds of up to 61 miles per hour have swirled around Western Washington Saturday morning, with the heaviest gusts around Sandy Point Shores and Lummi Bay.

In Tacoma, 52 mile-per-hour winds were recorded at the Tacoma Narrows around 10 a.m., with similar levels in Whidbey and Lopez Islands, according to the National Weather Service. The area near the San Juan Islands and Admiral Inlet received a high wind warning Friday night, expected to last through this afternoon.

A warm front passed through the Puget Sound area overnight, bringing higher temperatures after several days that dipped into the 30s and snowfall in the mountains. Parts of Whatcom County also saw a couple of inches.

It’s warmer now — about 50 degrees in Tacoma — but the temperatures will drop again later today, with ongoing rain in the lowlands and snow in the mountains.

“A Winter Storm is still set to bring snow and difficult travel conditions to the mountains tonight through Saturday night, including to the Passes,” the NWS said on Twitter Friday afternoon.

The heaviest snowfall is expected late Saturday afternoon through midnight, the agency said, causing “difficult travel conditions at times across the passes” on Interstate 90 as well as Routes 2 and 12.

A mix of rain and snow hit Snoqualmie Pass around 7 a.m. this morning. Chains are required for all vehicles due to compact snow and ice on the road.

This story was originally published December 18, 2021 at 11:15 AM.