Cold air spilled southward through the Fraser River Valley in mid-January, creating necessary antecedent conditions for the development of lowland snow as a weather system dropped down from Canada/Gulf of Alaska.
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Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS SEW wrote it up.
Cold air spilled southward through the Fraser River Valley in mid-January, creating necessary antecedent conditions for the development of lowland snow as a weather system dropped down from Canada/Gulf of Alaska.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Seattle, WA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 12, 9:09 AM PST, 1 hour 51 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Seattle WA
909 AM PST Sun Jan 12 2020
.SYNOPSIS...An upper trough will move through the region today and
tonight. Fraser outflow winds will develop by afternoon in the
Bellingham area. Cold air will push south tonight and remain over
the region for several days. A weather system arriving Wednesday
night or Thursday could bring snow to the lowlands. Warmer rainy
weather is likely by next weekend.
&&
.SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...An upper trough will cross
the area today with showers and heavy snow in the mountains. An
associated surface low over central Vancouver Island will track
east/southeast across the north part of the area today. At the
same time, strong high pressure will be building south into
British Columbia.
The low will pass through the area this afternoon and Fraser
outflow will begin to spill modified arctic air into Western
Washington from the north. Rain showers will transition to snow
from north to south later this afternoon and evening. There will
also likely be some sort of convergence along the leading edge of
the cold air, locally enhancing precipitation. Snow levels
1500-2500 feet this morning will fall to sea level by tonight as
the cold air works its way into Western Washington.
For now, the best estimate is most areas will see trace to an
inch or two or new snow by Monday morning but locally higher
amounts are certainly possible if some sort of convergence that
sets up. Higher amounts are also possible for the north interior
where rain should change to snow a few hours earlier and over the
Eastern Strait where upslope northeast winds will likely enhance
snow accumulations.
There will also be an extended period of windy conditions tonight
into the middle of the week for the Northwest Interior with
strong Fraser outflow. High wind warnings are in effect for this
starting tonight.
Drier conditions will prevail Monday and Tuesday with modified
arctic air in place. Some snow showers will probably linger on
Monday in an area of weak convergence over the central Sound and
in continued upslope flow over the Eastern Strait but
accumulations, if any, should be light and not impactful. Some
light snow will also probably linger over Lewis county and over
the Cascades but again nothing significant is expected.
Temperatures Monday will be cold with highs struggling to reach
freezing for most of the area and highs only in the lower to mid
20s for the north interior. Lows Monday night will be mostly 15-25
with the coldest readings in the north interior. Windy Fraser
outflow will make it feel even colder for the north interior with
winds chills down to near zero.
Tuesday should be mostly dry with the storm track to the south.
The main story will be continued cold temperatures. Fraser outflow
will continue. Temperatures will be similar to Monday which is to
say well below normal. Schneider
.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...Previous discussion...A
frontal system and possibly a deep low will be approaching Oregon
on Wednesday. Western Washington could see periods of snow
Wednesday night and Thursday as that system moves north and breaks
up. The chilly weather pattern breaks down quickly on Friday. It
should be raining by the weekend with highs in the 40s and maybe
even the lower to mid 50s although that is not in the forecast
quite yet. 19
&&
.AVIATION...Radar imagery this morning reveals another round of
widespread rain across the area, much of which is affecting the
terminals or is in very close proximity. This trend will continue
into the afternoon before a significantly colder airmass barrels
down from the north. Rain is expected to change to snow in the Puget
Sound area late in the day. Some accumulation is possible. Snow will
taper overnight as the cold, dry air mass continues to settle in.
Ceilings largely MVFR this morning and generally progged to stay in
that range through this TAF cycle. Some reports of IFR will also be
possible. Winds S sustained 10-15kts with gusts 20-30ts, except BLI
and HQM where gusts 30-35kts is likely.
KSEA...MVFR expected to be the dominant category into Monday. Rain
will remain in the vicinity and change over to snow this evening.
Winds will be breezy out of the south 10-15kts with gusts 20-25kts.
Winds will shift to the north Monday morning as the arctic airmass
settles in.
Kovacik
&&
.MARINE...No changes planned for the marine package this morning.
Strong pressure gradient between lower pressure across the PacNW and
higher pressure across Canada will lead to strong winds across the
waters much of the day and into Monday. Gale warnings will remain in
place. Strong fraser outflow across the N Inland Waters later this
afternoon will mark the beginning of a much colder airmass moving
into the region. N Inland Waters will likely see snow, which
combined with wind may result in blowing snow reducing visibility
into the evening hours. Will also be evaluating the possibility of
freezing spray across this area. Right now not confident water temps
will be quite cold enough. Have omitted any advisory for now.
Previous discussion included for reference below:
A weather system will move through the waters today into
Monday. Gale warnings in effect for most waters with the exception
of the Puget Sound which has a small craft up. Severe conditions
will continue for Grays Harbor Bar as well. Fraser Outflow expected
to reach the northern inland waters this afternoon reaching into the
eastern Strait and Admiralty Inlet as well. Rain will changeover to
snow across the northern waters this afternoon and with the winds
will likely reduce visibility at times. Active pattern continues
through the rest of the week with additional headlines likely
needed.
Kovacik/CEO
&&
.HYDROLOGY...River flooding is unlikely for the next 7 days.
&&
.SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WA...Winter Storm Watch from 3 PM PST this afternoon through late
tonight for Admiralty Inlet Area-Bellevue and Vicinity-
Bremerton and Vicinity-East Puget Sound Lowlands-Eastern
Strait of Juan de Fuca-Everett and Vicinity-Hood Canal Area-
Seattle and Vicinity-Tacoma Area-Western Strait of Juan De
Fuca.
Winter Storm Warning until 3 AM PST Monday for Cascades of
Pierce and Lewis Counties-Cascades of Snohomish and King
Counties-Cascades of Whatcom and Skagit Counties.
High Wind Warning until 7 AM PST Monday for San Juan County-
Western Whatcom County.
Winter Storm Warning until 3 AM PST Monday for San Juan County-
Western Skagit County-Western Whatcom County.
Wind Advisory until 7 AM PST Monday for Western Skagit County.
Wind Advisory until 7 PM PST this evening for Central Coast-
North Coast.
PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 10 AM PST Monday for Grays Harbor Bar-
Puget Sound and Hood Canal.
Small Craft Advisory from midnight tonight to 10 AM PST Monday
for Coastal Waters From Cape Flattery To James Island 10 To
60 Nm-Coastal Waters From Cape Flattery To James Island Out
10 Nm-Coastal Waters From James Island To Point Grenville
10 To 60 Nm-Coastal Waters From James Island To Point
Grenville Out 10 Nm-Coastal Waters From Point Grenville To
Cape Shoalwater 10 To 60 Nm-Coastal Waters From Point
Grenville To Cape Shoalwater Out 10 Nm.
Gale Warning until midnight PST tonight for Coastal Waters From
Cape Flattery To James Island 10 To 60 Nm-Coastal Waters
From Cape Flattery To James Island Out 10 Nm-Coastal Waters
From James Island To Point Grenville 10 To 60 Nm-Coastal
Waters From James Island To Point Grenville Out 10 Nm-
Coastal Waters From Point Grenville To Cape Shoalwater 10
To 60 Nm-Coastal Waters From Point Grenville To Cape
Shoalwater Out 10 Nm.
Gale Warning until 10 AM PST Monday for Admiralty Inlet-East
Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-Northern Inland
Waters Including The San Juan Islands.
Small Craft Advisory from 4 PM this afternoon to 10 AM PST
Monday for Central U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-West
Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca.
Gale Warning until 4 PM PST this afternoon for Central U.S.
Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-West Entrance U.S. Waters
Strait Of Juan De Fuca.
&&
www.weather.gov/seattleThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
14 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Snow began falling on the 12th as cold air remain trapped near the surface and a weather system passed over the area. This was the first lowland snow event of the season and the year. General snowfall totals ranged from a trace to around 3 inches. Locations east of Everett received around 4-6 inches of snow.
Snow began falling on the 12th as cold air remain trapped near the surface and weather system passed over the area. This was the first lowland snow event of the season and the year. General snowfall totals ranged from a trace to around 2 inches.
Snow began falling on the 12th as cold air remain trapped near the surface and weather system passed over the area. This was the first lowland snow event of the season and the year. General snowfall totals ranged from a trace to around 2 inches in the Bremerton area, with higher amounts across northern Kitsap County in the 4-7 inch range.
Snow began falling on the 12th as cold air remain trapped near the surface and weather system passed over the area. This was the first lowland snow event of the season and the year. General snowfall totals ranged from a trace to around 2-3 inches.
Snow began falling on the 12th as cold air remain trapped near the surface and weather system passed over the area. This was the first lowland snow event of the season and the year. General snowfall totals ranged from a trace to around 2 inches.
Snow began falling on the 12th as cold air remain trapped near the surface and weather system passed over the area. This was the first lowland snow event of the season and the year. General snowfall totals ranged from around 3 to 5 inches.
Snow began falling on the 12th as cold air remain trapped near the surface and weather system passed over the area. This was the first lowland snow event of the season and the year. General snowfall totals ranged from around 3 inches.
Snow began falling on the 12th as cold air remain trapped near the surface and weather system passed over the area. This was the first lowland snow event of the season and the year. General snowfall totals ranged from around 2 inches.
Snow began falling on the 12th as cold air remain trapped near the surface and weather system passed over the area. This was the first lowland snow event of the season and the year. General snowfall totals ranged from a trace to around 2 inches.
Snow began falling on the 12th as cold air remain trapped near the surface and weather system passed over the area. This was the first lowland snow event of the season and the year. General snowfall totals ranged from a trace to around an inch.
Another round of winter weather moved through the area on the 14th and into the 15th. Snowfall totals with this storm were much higher in San Juan County than the previous winter storm. New snow accumulation around the county ranged from generally 6-10 inches.
Another round of winter weather moved through the area on the 14th and into the 15th. High snowfall totals were reported with this storm system compared the system the previous day. New snowfall totals ranged generally from 4 to 8 inches.
Another round of winter weather moved through the area on the 14th and into the 15th. Higher snowfall totals were reported with this storm system. New snowfall accumulations of generally 7-10 inches were reported.
Another round of winter weather moved through the area on the 14th and into the 15th. The hardest hit area during this storm was northern Clallam County, particularly near Port Angeles were 2 feet of new snow was reported.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Washington in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Washington, January 2020
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 873878, 873879, 873880, 873881, 873882, 873883, 873884, 873885, 873890, 873891, 873886, 873887, 873888, 873889.