Is Tacoma in for a snowy Christmas? Forecasters say area could see 1 to 2 inches of snow
A white Christmas may be coming to the Tacoma and Olympia area this Saturday. But don’t expect a winter wonderland; forecasters say scattered snow showers could bring one to two inches of snow at most.
National Weather Service forecaster Mary Butwin said there will be one other thing to look out for this weekend: cold weather. Temperatures will continue to fall through the weekend and could hit the 10s by early next week. But forecasters know what people are really looking for over the holiday weekend.
“I know everyone is real excited about the snow,” Butwin said. “There is still a chance for Tacoma-Olympia area this weekend. It’s looking like it’s going to be one to two inches over the course of two days. Some places might see a bit more, a bit less. It’s going to be pretty localized.”
Tacoma and Olympia could see a mix of rain and snow starting Friday night, but most snow showers won’t start until after 10 a.m. Saturday, according to the NWS. The weather service forecasts a chance of snow each day the rest of the weekend, but most accumulation is expected Saturday and Sunday.
More snow is expected in the mountain passes. The NWS said cold air coming into Western Washington from British Columbia will bring the snow level in the Cascades down from 1500 feet Friday to 700 feet Friday night. By Saturday, the snow level is forecast to fall to sea level.
On Thursday, conditions at Snoqualmie Pass were wet with snow and slush. Travelers were advised to use traction tires.
Conditions were worse at Stevens Pass thanks to heavy snow and poor visibility. According to the Washington State Department of Transportation, Stevens Pass was closed Thursday afternoon in both directions due to multiple vehicles that spun out in the bad weather.
