WSDOT

Issued: 5:02 PM May 19  Will Expire: 5:15 AM May 20

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SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
502 PM PDT SUN MAY 19 2013

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OLYMPICS-WEST SLOPES NORTHERN CASCADES AND PASSES-
WEST SLOPES CENTRAL CASCADES AND PASSES-
502 PM PDT SUN MAY 19 2013

...A CHANGE TO COLD WET AND POSSIBLY SNOWY WEATHER EXPECTED IN THE
MOUNTAINS ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY...

LATE SEASON SNOW IS EXPECTED IN THE HIGH ELEVATIONS OF THE
CASCADES AND OLYMPICS FROM LATE TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
THIS WILL FOLLOW A DECEPTIVELY WARM...DRY AND SUNNY MONDAY.

A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL ARRIVE LATE MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY
MORNING. UNSEASONABLY COLD AIR IS EXPECTED BEHIND THE
FRONT. THE SNOW LEVEL WILL DROP AS LOW AS 3000 FEET AROUND
SUNRISE ON WEDNESDAY...RISING TO 4000 FEET ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.
MEANWHILE...A SLOW-MOVING LOW PRESSURE CENTER OVER NORTHERN
OREGON ON WEDNESDAY WILL SPIN POTENTIALLY COPIOUS PRECIPITATION
NORTH INTO THE AREA. THE AFFECT WILL BE SEVERAL INCHES OF
ACCUMULATING SNOW AT HIGH ELEVATIONS...ESPECIALLY ABOVE 4000 FEET.
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 CURRENT FORECAST CALLS FOR
LITTLE IMPACT AT SNOQUALMIE PASS.

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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HANER

WEATHER.GOV/SEATTLE