A Winter Storm Watch is in effect Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday night, for possible widespread snow.
Described by weather experts as an impressive cyclone off the northwest coast, bringing to the cascades, and Chelan and Okanogan counties predicted snow totals of between 4-10".
Western Chelan County, including Stehekin, Stevens Pass and Holden Village could see between 8-16" of snow.
A blizzard warning has been issued for the Cascade mountain passes, with easterly wind in northwest Washington and across the western slopes of the Cascades at 25-40 mph and gusts 60-65 mph in places.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Jeremy Wolf says, "a mid latitude cyclone has developed in a favorable environment; strong winds and a jet stream nearby bringing lots of moisture into the region."
"Temperatures will be moderating some as we go into Thursday and Friday," Wolf predicts. "Snow levels will be coming up by Thursday afternoon and Thursday night up to about 4,000 feet."
The State Department of Transportation has closed a portion of the North Cascades Highway.
A 37-mile stretch of highway 20 between the Ross Dam Trailhead (milepost 134) and Silver Star (milepost 171) closes annually due to heavy snowfall and avalanche risks during the colder months.
The Washington State Department of Transportation provides real-time travel data here.
Real-time mountain pass information is found here.
A 949 millibar (28.02" barometric pressure) low off the northwest Washington coast. The National Weather Service predicts high winds Tuesday night for the coast, west portion of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Cascade foothills. Photo courtesy: National Weather Service.
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