Temperatures are in the teens and low 20s in Western Washington on Friday. Parts of the region are dealing with some accumulation after light snow fell Thursday and overnight.
The lowest temperatures of this cold snap are expected on Friday and Saturday. In Seattle, the forecast shows a high of 21 degrees Friday and 26 degrees Saturday.
Temperatures are forecasted to climb in the Puget Sound region over the next week but remain below freezing through the weekend. That cold could make for difficult driving conditions.
The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory and a wind chill warning in the East Puget Sound lowlands through Saturday evening. NWS also issued a winter storm warning for Portland and parts of southwest Washington through Sunday morning.
Some schools districts were closed Friday, others started late.
On the mountain passes, snow is making travel difficult but conditions are improving. As of Friday morning, Stevens Pass and White Pass had reopened after closures. Traction tires are advised in Snoqualmie Pass and chains are required, except for all-wheel drive vehicles, in Blewett Pass.
Trent Davis, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said the freezing temperatures are not typical for this time of year.
"Really through the middle part of next week we're still pretty cold,” he said. “At least it'll get back into the 40s next week, so that will be a little bit more of a relief."
Meteorologist Jacob DeFlitch told KNKX earlier this week that there are concerns about water on roads or sidewalks freezing. But the weather service doesn't expect conditions like last December when roads and sidewalks were icy and dangerous.
If you or someone you know needs shelter, call 211 or go WA211.org.
