Snow, Ice & Freezing Rain: Here's The Latest Forecast For WA

SEATTLE — The clouds should part for the official arrival of winter, but increasingly frigid air and ice concerns will continue ahead of the next weather system due Thursday. The National Weather Service expects overnight lows in the teens, with afternoon highs only in the 20s Wednesday and Thursday. Wind chill values during that period could dip into the single digits.

Apart from the cold, Wednesday looks to stay partly sunny around Seattle and a "brief lull" in the wet weather should continue for most until Thursday afternoon. That's when forecasters expect another system to move the region, bringing along fresh snow, followed by freezing rain as temperatures begin to warm heading into Friday.

Forecasters expect several hazards to develop across the region, including significant ice accumulations, before warmer temperatures settle in to make for a rainy holiday weekend.

"As this system moves onshore it will likely bring a broader range of winter hazards including periods of freezing rain and, as conditions warm, rain-on-snow," NWS Seattle wrote Tuesday. "[Models] continue to highlight an elevated threat of these complex conditions - including freezing rain for many areas especially from the South Puget Sound to the coast in Grays Harbor County. Ice accumulations associated with freezing rain can have significant impacts on power infrastructure, trees and travel. Impacts associated with the transition to rain - that is rain falling on snow could lead to potential urban/small stream flooding."

After the cold passes, forecasters are tracking a "persistent series of atmospheric rivers," that are likely to keep things soggy across Western Washington through New Year's Day, renewing the threat of river flooding.