Forecasters See Colder Weather Heading For Washington

SEATTLE — After a run of more seasonable weather for Puget Sound, colder days may be soon upon us. The National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center updated its hazard outlooks Monday, showing a moderate chance that temperatures will run well below normal across much of the West next week, including portions of Washington.

The odds of more significant cold are lower west of the Cascades, at 20 percent, but current forecasts still show afternoon highs down more than 10 degrees in Seattle by next Monday.

While it appears unlikely that the lowlands will get too close to freezing, the nights are on track to get colder. Mary Butwin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Seattle office, told Patch that next week's lows could dip into the low 40s or even the upper 30s. For the mountains, freezing nights look to be a sure thing.

"A more significant front may arrive late in the weekend around Sunday with both more moisture and a more solid push of cold air that could send snow levels down to around the Cascade passes and a greater chance of snow accumulations closer to highway elevations," NWS Seattle forecasters wrote Monday. "While we'll continue to refine details in the coming days as the picture becomes clearer, those planning to head to the mountains during the late portions of the weekend will want to pay close attention to the forecast."

The Climate Prediction Center's 10-day outlooks paint a similar picture, showing healthy odds for below-average temperatures inbound, coinciding with a very good chance for wetter weather between Sunday and next Thursday.

In the near term, earlier forecasts for this week remain mostly on track, with temperatures cooling a few degrees Tuesday and rain through Wednesday before a dry break Thursday. More specifics about the timing, extent and duration of next week's potential cold streak will be available as the forecasts are firmed up.