WSDOT

Issued: 3:26 AM May 20  Will Expire: 6:15 PM May 20

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SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
326 AM PDT MON MAY 20 2013

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OLYMPICS-WEST SLOPES NORTHERN CASCADES AND PASSES-
WEST SLOPES CENTRAL CASCADES AND PASSES-
326 AM PDT MON MAY 20 2013

...A CHANGE TO COLD AND WET WEATHER IS EXPECTED IN THE MOUNTAINS
STARTING TUESDAY AND CONTINUING THROUGH MUCH OF THE UPCOMING
WEEK...

A COLD WEATHER SYSTEM IN THE YUKON IS EXPECTED TO DROP RAPIDLY
SOUTHWARD TONIGHT AND MOVE INTO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TUESDAY
THROUGH THE UPCOMING WEEK. SNOW LEVELS IN THE MOUNTAINS ARE
EXPECTED TO RAPIDLY DROP TO 4500 FEET TUESDAY AFTERNOON THEN DOWN
TO 3500 FEET TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY. THE COLDER AND WET
WEATHER WILL FOLLOW A DECEPTIVELY WARM...DRY AND SUNNY DAY TODAY.

ACCUMULATING SNOW SHOULD BE EXPECTED AT TIMES AT HIGH ELEVATIONS
TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY. THIS WOULD IMPACT
HIGHWAY PASSES THAT HAVE ALREADY OPENED FOR THE SUMMER...
INCLUDING RAINY PASS AND CHINOOK PASS. STEVENS AND WHITE PASSES
COULD ALSO BE IMPACTED. THE IMPACT OF SNOWFALL ON SNOQUALMIE PASS
IS EXPECTED TO BE SMALL.

HIKERS AND CLIMBERS VENTURING INTO THE MOUNTAINS WILL WANT TO BE
PREPARED FOR A QUICK CHANGE TO COLD AND WET WEATHER ON
TUESDAY...ESPECIALLY FOLLOWING A DECEPTIVELY WARM AND SUNNY
MONDAY. FROM 4000 FEET AND UP...BE PREPARED FOR ACCUMULATING SNOW
STARTING LATER TUESDAY AND CONTINUING THROUGH AT LEAST WEDNESDAY
NIGHT. DRIVERS NEEDING TO CROSS OVER THE HIGHER CASCADE PASSES ON
WEDNESDAY WILL WANT TO ALLOW EXTRA TIME FOR THE JOURNEY...OR
CONSIDER USING A LOWER PASS...SUCH AS SNOQUALMIE PASS.

STAY TUNED FOR THE LATEST FORECASTS AND UPDATES EARLY THIS WEEK.

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ALBRECHT/HANER
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE