The current forecast is promising for snow in Seattle this week.
We have good news or bad news, depending on how you feel about snow in Seattle! Some of us love how the lightest snowfall shuts down the city for the day, while others could do without the inconvenience. In a La Niña winter, Seattle can expect a colder than average winter with more precipitation and snowfall than usual. The La Niña weather pattern arrived late this winter, but now we may finally see some snowflakes according to this week’s forecast.
Wondering when we might see the first snowfall in Seattle this winter?
According to the National Weather Service, Seattle has received a shift in the weather pattern this week. Right now the NWS just issued a Winter Weather Advisory that will be in effect from February 3 at 5:00 p.m. until February 4 at 10:00 a.m.
Snow is expected with total snow accumulations up to two inches. However, “snow totals will be localized in nature due to scattered coverage of snow showers. Not all locations will
receive accumulating snowfall.”
The NWS advises “Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the Monday evening and Tuesday morning commutes.” Commuters should “slow down and use caution while traveling.” Additionally all Seattleites should “prepare for possible power outages.”
Read on for more info about other potential snowfall in Seattle!
According to the Farmer’s Almanac’s 2024-2025 winter forecast, “precipitation and snowfall will be above average” in the Pacific Northwest. The coldest periods will occur in January and early March, while snowfall is most likely to happen in late December, early January, and early February.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) explains that, “La Niña conditions are expected to develop later this fall and typically lead to a more northerly storm track during the winter months, leaving the southern tier of the country warmer and drier.” That means that we can expect “wetter-than-average conditions for the entire northern tier of the continental U.S., particularly in the Pacific Northwest and the Great Lakes region.”
The National Weather Service 30-year average data for snowfall in Seattle shows that on average the first snowfall in Seattle occurs by December 26. Seattle did not receive any snow in December 2024, possibly because this La Niña has been slow to arrive. It took until mid-January 2025 for the temperature of the Pacific Ocean to become cool enough to meet the criteria for La Niña.
Even if this winter turns out to be a weak La Niña, there is still a good chance of snowfall in Seattle. As The Seattle Times explains, “Weak La Niñas have produced cold winters with lowland snow in Western Washington.” They cited 13 La Niña winters between 1991 and 2000, during which Seattle received three more inches of snow than usual each time.
The data also finds that Seattle gets an average of 5.6 inches of snow every winter. The most common month for snowfall in Seattle is February, so there is still time this winter for at least one good snowfall in Seattle even if it doesn’t end up happening this week or the next.
Unfortunately, Seattle may be more likely to get freezing rain than snow. If we do see any snow or freezing rain in Seattle this winter, you may want to think twice before driving in it. Our steep streets and lack of experience with winter weather make for a dangerous combination. See the videos of the 2022 Seattle ice storm for reference!
We will keep this post updated as Seattle’s winter forecast develops!