2 winter storms expected to dump snow in the Cascades

Associated Press

SEATTLE – Skiers and snowboarders are getting a double dose of good news as 2021 approaches, but those heading over the passes might need a double dose of headache medicine instead.

An active weather pattern is moving in this final week of 2020, with two storms set to bring several feet of new snow to the Cascades, KOMO-TV reports.

The first storm is set to arrive Wednesday into Thursday morning. Forecasts show 12 to 18 inches of new snow, with potentially even higher amounts of up to 2 feet near Mount Baker. A winter storm watch has been issued above 2,500 feet from late Tuesday night into Thursday morning.

Snow levels are expected to remain below pass levels for this event, meaning heavy snow is likely along both Snoqualmie and Stevens passes. In the lowlands, it’s a chilly rain for the December finale though enough rain is expected to drive the Skokomish River to moderate flood stage by later Wednesday into Thursday.

An even stronger storm is expected later Friday through the weekend. For areas around Stevens Pass and higher, this has potential for a major snow event with 2 to 3 feet of new snow possible in the period. Travel along U.S. Highway 2 could be extremely difficult.

There remains some uncertainty whether the snow level will hover just above or below Snoqualmie Pass levels and may fluctuate during the event. Right now, early forecasts say it will rain along I-90 for parts of the storm with snow totals around 4 to 6 inches around periods of rain, but some forecasts do indicate potential it remains all snow along Snoqualmie as well, so considerably heavier totals are a possibility.

All told, some of the higher elevations in the mountains could reach 4 to 5 feet of new snow by Sunday.