More Chances For Snow Ahead As Arctic Air Lingers In Puget Sound

SEATTLE — While most of the lowland snow has passed, for now, the arctic air mass that settled across Puget Sound over Christmas is here to stay for the last few days of 2021. Earlier snow forecasts largely held up for the holiday weekend, with many communities across the region accumulating 3 to 6 inches from early Sunday morning into the afternoon.

While the bulk of the snowfall has rolled out of town, barring a few flurries here and there, dangerously cold temperatures look unlikely to break freezing before Thursday, and more snow could be in the cards later in the week.

Forecasters expect most will wake up with lows in the teens Monday morning, and afternoon highs will be stuck in the low 20s for the Seattle area, despite partly sunny skies. Persistent wind in some areas will make for even more significant impacts.

"Monday morning lows for the lowland regions will be 0-15 degrees; with the coldest locations in Western Whatcom, San Juans, and along the Northeastern Olympic Peninsula," NWS Seattle wrote Sunday. "The aforementioned locations are going to continue to experience gusty winds, which will create wind chill values [from] -20 - 0 degrees. Winds will be lighter for the rest of the region so wind chill will be less of a factor."

The prolonged cold snap means the recent snow will not have a chance to melt, and unplowed or untreated surfaces will continue to present hazards for drivers and pedestrians over the next several days.

As the severe cold continues throughout Western Washington, Seattle, King County and Pierce County have opened additional warming centers for people without adequate access to heat or shelter.

Daytime temperatures are currently forecast to rebound into the upper 30s by Thursday, but the slight warmup looks like it will coincide with the return of moisture, adding even more snow and ice to the mix. Another system could move through the region over New Year's weekend, but forecasters believe temperatures will improve enough for just rain in the lowlands. More details on the late-week forecast will be shared in the coming days.

Here is the five-day weather outlook for the Seattle area:

• Monday: 23°/20° (Partly sunny, PM clouds)
• Tuesday: 31°/20° (Partly sunny, PM chance of snow)
• Wednesday: 29°/24° (Sunny, PM snow likely)
• Thursday: 37°/28° (Rain/snow)
• Friday: 35°/25° (Chance of snow)