Special Weather Statement
Target Areas Include:
- Hood Canal Area
- Southwest Interior
- Olympics
Other Areas Included in this Statement:
- Admiralty Inlet Area
- Central Coast
- East Puget Sound Lowlands
- Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca
- Everett and Vicinity
- Lower Chehalis Valley Area
- North Coast
- San Juan County
- Seattle, Bremerton Area
- Tacoma Area
- West Slopes Central Cascades and Passes
- West Slopes Northern Cascades and Passes
- Western Skagit County
- Western Strait of Juan De Fuca
- Western Whatcom County
A Strong Front Will
Move Through The Area Friday
A strong frontal system will reach the area on Friday with
heavy snow expected in the mountains. One to two feet of new snow is possible
by Saturday morning. A winter storm watch is currently in effect for this.
Locally windy conditions are also possible over the lowlands
as the front moves through. Most areas will become breezy Friday as the front
moves ashore and some areas will become windy. Southerly winds of 20 to 35 mph
with gusts to 40 to 50 mph are possible. The strongest winds will likely be
near the coast and over the north interior. Winds will turn more westerly and
gradually taper Friday night as the front moves inland.
The University of Washington weather model seems to show
that most of the wind activity will occur from about 6 AM through Noon on
Friday: http://www.atmos.washington.edu/~ovens/loops/wxloop.cgi?mm5d2_slp+///1
Lastly...large swells are expected to impact the coast late Friday
night and Saturday. Waves are predicted to reach 22 or 23 feet on Saturday before
subsiding. At minimum, dangerous surf conditions can be anticipated on Saturday.
The tides will also need to be monitored for the possibility of minor coastal
flooding, especially for those low-lying coastal communities that are typically
impacted by large ocean swells.
