SEATTLE — A weather system bringing gusty winds, mountain snow, rain and high surf is moving into western Washington on Friday and will stick around through the weekend.
KING 5 has activated First Alert for this weather event, which could affect lives, property or travel in the Pacific Northwest region. During this event, the First Alert Weather Team will bring you the latest information to keep you and your family safe.
Steady rain along with gusty winds will arrive late in the day Friday and linger into Saturday. Winds are expected to increase on Friday afternoon and subside on Saturday evening, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
The strongest winds will be north of Everett, where there could be gusts of up to 40 miles per hour, according to the KING 5 Weather Team. The strong winds will also be felt along the coast, in the San Juan Islands, Whidbey Island and western Skagit and Whatcom counties. Wind gusts of 30 to 40 miles per hour are possible.
A Gale Warning is now in effect through 5 p.m. on Saturday. Strong winds may cause hazardous seas that could capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility, according to the NWS.
A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the west slopes of the North and Central Cascades above 3,500 feet from 1 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. on Sunday.
Later on Saturday, a cold front will move through, dropping snow levels to 2,000-2,500 feet on Sunday, which will bring new snow to ski areas.
Forecasts predict between 8 to 12 inches at Stevens Pass with significantly higher amounts possible for the Mount Baker Ski Area. Snoqualmie Pass will likely see less than 7 inches of accumulation.
Snow-covered roads and minor travel delays are possible across Stevens Pass.
A Coastal Flood Advisory is in place from Saturday morning through Saturday afternoon due to king tides. There could be water inundation of 2 to 3 feet above ground level along shorelines and low-lying coastal areas. Large waves between 17 to 19 feet are expected along the coast.
Numerous roads may be closed, and low-lying property, including homes, businesses and some critical infrastructure may be inundated. There is the potential for some shoreline erosion.
The highest impacts are likely to be felt at around 11 a.m. on Saturday. Flooding may continue through late morning to mid-day on Monday due to high tide.