UPDATE 4:50pm
The National Weather Service has downgraded the approaching Weather System to a Winter Weather Advisory from a Storm Watch. The prediction is now for 1 to 3 inches of snow in our area, quickly erased by rain.

A WARM FRONT WILL BRING SNOW TO THE WESTERN WASHINGTON LOWLANDS LATER TONIGHT AND FRIDAY MORNING...AND TO THE CASCADES LATE TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON. SNOW WILL CHANGE TO RAIN OVER THE LOWLANDS BY AFTERNOON.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SEATTLE HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 10 AM PST
FRIDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

Update at 10am
The National Weather Service has issued an updated Winter Storm Watch that goes into effect Thursday evening, Dec. 19 and extends through the morning commute Friday with snow accumulations expected to be 1 to 5 inches, timing likely just before sunrise through 7am. Expect some transportation issues in the morning. If you are taking the bus check here first http://metro.kingcounty.gov/alerts/snow/index.html

UPDATE FROM NOAA 4:10am Dec. 19

A FRONT IS EXPECTED TO BRING SNOW TO THE LOWLANDS
LATER TONIGHT AND FRIDAY MORNING. SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATIIONS
POSSIBLE FROM ABOUT TACOMA NORTHWARD. SNOW WILL CHANGE TO RAIN BY
AFTERNOON.

WAZ001-503-505>511-200015-
...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH
FRIDAY AFTERNOON...

* HAZARD TYPE...SNOW.

* SOME AFFECTED LOCATIONS...THE INTERIOR LOWLANDS FROM ABOUT TACOMA
NORTHWARD.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...1 TO 5 INCHES POSSIBLE.

* TIMING...THE BEST CHANCE FOR ACCUMULATING SNOW IS EARLY FRIDAY
MORNING...STARTING A LITTLE BEFORE SUNRISE.

* IMPACTS...TRAVEL MAY BECOME HAZARDOUS DUE TO SLIPPERY ROADS...
ESPECIALLY DURING THE MORNING COMMUTE.

ORIGINAL POST DEC. 18

OVERVIEW...A MOIST WARM FRONT WILL SPREAD PRECIPITATION OVER WESTERN WASHINGTON LATE THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY. THE PRECIPITATION WILL FALL INTO A COOL DRY AIR MASS...WHICH WILL RESULT IN SNOW OVER THE LOWLANDS. WARMER AIR WITH THE WARM FRONT WILL EVENTUALLY CHANGE THE SNOW OVER TO RAIN BY LATE FRIDAY MORNING. THERE IS STILL QUITE A BIT OF UNCERTAINTY REGARDING HOW THIS EVENT WILL UNFOLD...PARTICULARLY WITH HOW MUCH SNOW WILL FALL IN WHICH AREAS. IF WARM SOUTH WINDS ARE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN EXPECTED THEN SNOW AMOUNTS WILL BE LESS.

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SEATTLE HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

* HAZARD TYPE...SNOW.

* SOME AFFECTED LOCATIONS...THE INTERIOR OF WESTERN WASHINGTON FROM THE GREATER PUGET SOUND REGION NORTHWARD.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...UP TO 2 INCHES AROUND TACOMA...2 TO 4 INCHES FROM SEATTLE NORTHWARD. SPOTTY ACCUMULATIONS NEAR 5 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE EAST AND NORTH OF PUGET SOUND.

* TIMING...A CHANCE OF SNOW AFTER MIDNIGHT THURSDAY NIGHT...THEN SNOW INCREASING LATE THURSDAY NIGHT AND CONTINUING TO LATE MORNING ON FRIDAY. THIS WILL IMPACT THE FRIDAY MORNING COMMUTE.

* IMPACTS...TRAVEL MAY BECOME HAZARDOUS DUE TO SLIPPERY ROADS...ESPECIALLY DURING THE FRIDAY MORNING COMMUTE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE WINTER WEATHER. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL IN THE WATCH AREA...CARRY AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...WATER...AND BLANKETS IN CASE OF
EMERGENCY.