Cold & Snowy Week Ahead For Puget Sound: Forecast

SEATTLE — Seattle will close the books on February and kick off meteorological spring this week, but unseasonably cold nights will keep a chance for snow in the forecast through next weekend.

The Emerald City woke up to snow Sunday morning, logging 1.6 inches at SEA Airport, which forecasters said was the second-highest total for Feb. 26 on record and nudged Seattle's snow total just over 8 inches for the season to date.

According to the National Weather Service, conditions will stay cold enough for low-elevation snow each morning and night in the forecast period, but afternoon highs in the 40s should make quick work of whatever accumulates.

Forecasters predict overnight hours Monday and Tuesday may allow for more significant accumulations, particularly outside of Seattle proper.

"It will once again be cold enough for lowland snow Monday morning," NWS Seattle wrote Sunday. "The Coast, Hood Canal Area and interior south of Tacoma look to possibly get another 1-3 [inches] of snow. Farther north, amounts look lighter with mostly less than an inch expected."

Tuesday will present a similar scenario, with temperatures cold enough for snow across Puget Sound and a slightly better chance for an inch or two of accumulating from Everett south. Wednesday looks drier and sunnier, but afternoon highs will remain a few degrees below normal.

Looking later in the week, another wet system Thursday is poised to bring cold rain bookended by snow, and that pattern may extend through next weekend. The latest climate outlooks also favor colder temperatures sticking around into mid-March, with a chance they could linger beyond the spring equinox.