Winter is coming! Seattle area prepares for weekend freeze

Chances of lowland snow arrive Thursday in Western Washington, followed by freezing temperatures over the weekend.

UPDATE (Jan. 11, 2023): Not long after Western Washington experienced its warmest December on record, it's possible the region could set all-time cold records in January.

The National Weather Service in Seattle forecasts a low temperature of 14 degrees on Sunday, which would be the coldest recorded in Seattle since 2010. If temps dip lower, it will be the coldest since the '90s.

On Thursday morning, Seattle Weather Blog's Justin Shaw told Seattle Now that forecasts have shifted day-to-day for Seattle. At this point, Portland is more likely to see the amounts of snow previously expected in Seattle. The Seattle area may see pockets of snow, or a rain/snow mix into the weekend.

"It may not snow, but this cold means business," Shaw said. "We're looking at highs in the 20s, lows in the teens. It's probably not going to get above freezing from Friday morning until maybe Sunday night. Pull in your plants. Don't let your pets outside ... if your car breaks down, make sure you have a heavy coat, mittens, a hat, just be prepared."

Listen to Shaw's full conversation with Seattle Now here.

ORIGINAL REPORT (Jan. 10, 2023)

Depending on the location, one inch of snow in lowland areas is possible, including around Seattle and Tacoma. Temperatures Friday and Saturday will dip well below freezing. Whether snow falls, or the roads ice up, Seattle's Department of Transportation is preparing for a potential 24/7 job of keeping roads clear.

RELATED: Lowland snow, freezing temps expected in Western Washington

"SDOT has a fleet of over 50 vehicles with snow and ice fighting equipment and over 100 crew members trained to operate that equipment, including crew members from other city departments who have been trained to drive snow response vehicles and are ready to help," said Ethan Bergerson with the Seattle Department of Transportation.

SDOT expects to start deploying trucks on Thursday with a plan to pretreat major routes with de-icer to prevent ice from forming on the road. Crews will then battle snow, should it fall. The city has planned more than 1,200 miles of "critical routes," taking into consideration hospitals, schools, shelters, and emergency services. SDOT notes that during heavier weather events, it can take city crews up to 12 hours to clear all the streets.

"SDOT will also deploy crews to clear dozens of pedestrian overpasses, stairwells and curb ramps that are not near homes or businesses," Bergerson added. "But we can’t be everywhere at once, and with over 2,400 miles of sidewalk in Seattle we depend on the public to do their part and clear the sidewalks and curb ramps in front of their buildings. Clearing the sidewalks in front of homes and businesses isn’t just the law, it’s also the right thing to do so that everyone can travel safely during a snow storm, especially people who are blind, disabled, or have a harder time getting around."

Snow has already dumped on the region's mountain passes this week, and more is expected to fall. The Washington State Department of Transportation advises drivers to be prepared for tough road conditions. Check for road requirements and closures ahead of traveling.

Sea-Tac Airport travel

Travelers are advised to monitor flight statuses at Sea-Tac Airport over the weekend, and be prepared for delays. However, no disruptions to service are currently expected, according to airport spokesperson Perry Cooper.

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“We're not expecting to see any major impacts at this point, of course, it can change, as we all know, around here," Cooper said.

Sound Transit light rail delays

In addition to the frosty weather expected over the weekend that could snarl traffic, Sound Transit also notes that service will be disrupted on its 1 Line, which offers light rail service between Angle Lake and Northgate, between Jan. 13 and Feb. 4. The trains will run every 26 minutes on weekdays while work is performed on tracks through Downtown Seattle.