After a dousing of snow and ice this week, Christmas in Seattle will ultimately be a wet and warm affair.
The Seattle metro area will continue to warm up Saturday, with heavy rain and a high near 50 degrees expected, according to the National Weather Service.
Rain will peter out in the evening, making way for a drippy Christmas morning and warmer-than-typical temperatures, said NWS meteorologist Gary Schneider.
“It’s definitely going to feel balmy compared to what we’ve had the last few weeks,” Schneider said. “We haven’t had a 50-degree day … since November.”
That warmer weather doesn’t extend across King County, however, with ice storm warnings still in effect through Saturday night for the mountain passes.
Temperatures at Stevens and Snoqualmie passes Saturday morning hovered around 5 degrees and 8 degrees, respectively. Freezing rain, sleet, snow — or some combination of two or three — are all possibilities, Schneider said.
Stevens Pass along Highway 2 remains closed both directions because of compact snow and ice. An avalanche warning was issued for Stevens Pass and the East Central forecast zones Saturday morning by the Northwest Avalanche Center because of the heavy mixed precipitation and strong winds.
On I-90, Snoqualmie Pass eastbound near North Bend was closed Saturday morning because of adverse weather conditions. For cars traveling west, chains are required except for vehicles with all-wheel drive.
While getting up to the mountains may be challenging this weekend, those already hunkered down, there, may still be able to enjoy a day on the slopes.
Freezing rain has hampered and closed some ski runs and lifts, but some slopes remain open. At the Summit in Snoqualmie, snow didn’t crust over as expected, officials said. The resort delayed opening, but visitors can enjoy some soft snow on open ski runs as of Saturday morning.
Temperatures are expected to rise above freezing Saturday night, making way for warmer temperatures and rain on Christmas in the foothills.
Major flooding is not a huge concern through the weekend, according to Schneider, but residents in the Seattle metro area should be cautious of big puddles that might form near poor drainage areas and under passes.
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