Stormy Days Ahead: Wind, Snow, and Rain Alerts Across the Region

Get ready for a windy and snowy few days! Strong winds, reaching up to 60 miles per hour, are starting to hit the coasts and won't let up until Thursday. These powerful gusts can cause tree damage and even power outages. Puget Sound might not see winds quite as strong, but they could still gust over 40 miles per hour. A burst of wind is expected to hit Whidbey Island too. In the mountains, heavy snow will continue until Thursday morning. The Cascades and Olympics are under a Winter Storm Warning, which means expect lots of snow! Snoqualmie Pass could see up to 14 inches, with some freezing rain mixed in. Higher up, like at Stevens Pass, snow could pile up to two feet. Mountain Baker and southwest-facing slopes might get up to three feet of snow. Travel through the passes is not recommended and more closures are likely. The Northwest Avalanche Center has warned about potential avalanches in several areas. So, it's best to stay away from steep slopes and even flat areas underneath them. Check their forecast for more details. After Thursday, expect more rain and some showers. The landslide risk will increase as the ground becomes more saturated. Drizzly days ahead with more rain expected on Sunday and possibly on New Year's Day.