The Pacific Northwest is bracing for a serious winter storm right now. Winter storm warnings are active across Washington, Alaska, Oregon, and Montana, with the heaviest impacts expected in mountain regions. If you live in or are traveling through the Cascades, pay close attention—conditions are about to get rough.
The Cascades of Snohomish and Whatcom, and northern King and Skagit counties are expected to see between 12 and 18 inches of snow alongside 35 mph winds from Sunday, with the wintry conditions expected to continue until Tuesday. But that's just the start. Similar conditions are expected across Stevens Pass and Holden Village, with up to 2 feet of snow expected by Tuesday morning and up to 4 feet by Friday morning, with winds reaching 40 mph. That's enough snow to make mountain travel extremely hazardous.
Heavy snowfall, coupled with strong winds ranging from 35 mph to 45 mph, could reduce visibility, make "travel conditions difficult to impossible," especially over mountain passes, and potentially cause road closures and delays. The National Weather Service is urging drivers to delay travel if possible.
If you're in the affected regions, the message is clear: take precautions seriously. Stock up on essentials, charge your devices, and avoid unnecessary travel, especially over mountain passes. Lower elevations in valleys and cities like Seattle should see mostly rain mixed with snow, but even there, roads can become slick quickly. Check with local transportation departments before heading out, and consider delaying any mountain travel until conditions improve midweek.