Here we go again...

Statement as of 3:59 PM PST on December 19, 2008

... Winter Storm Warning in effect from 4 PM Saturday to 4 PM PST
Sunday...
...

The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued a Winter Storm Warning... which is in effect from 4 PM Saturday to 4 PM PST Sunday.
The Winter Storm Watch is no longer in effect.

A major winter storm is on tap this weekend. Heavy snow is expected to develop along the coast on Saturday afternoon and then spread into the interior of western Washington early Saturday evening. Heaviest snow will occur on the Kitsap peninsula ... along Hood Canal ... and from Olympia and Chehalis west to the central coast near Ocean Shores. 10 to 18 inches of snow is expected close to Hood Canal. Other locations within this area should get 5 to 12 inches of snow.

Along the I-5 Corridor North of Tacoma ... including Seattle and Everett ... storm-total snowfall of 4 to 8 inches is expected.
Western Skagit and Whatcom counties should receive about 3 to 5 inches of snow. In general ... lighter amounts will occur near the Cascade foothills with heavier amounts further west along the shores of Puget Sound. Some parts of eastern King County... where wind is a big threat ... will receive 1 inch or less of snowfall.

Late Saturday night and Sunday morning ... locations from Tacoma on south through Lewis County and west to the coast are expected to mix with sleet and freezing rain. Freezing rain is most likely in Grays Harbor County and the lower Chehalis valley. If more precipitation occurs in the form of freezing rain than snow... then an ice storm would be possible with ice accumulations in excess of one-quarter inch. This is not a certainty but should be kept in mind. Ice storms are capable of causing power lines and large tree branches to snap and cause major travel disruptions.

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

Winter Storm Warning means significant amounts of snow... sleet... and ice are expected or occurring. Strong winds are also possible. This will make travel very hazardous or impossible.

Mercer/haner

Check out page seven of this National Weather Service briefing. OMIGODWE'REGONNADIE!!!!!

And then we have this:

High Wind Warning
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
415 PM PST FRI DEC 19 2008

WAZ505-201300-
/O.CON.KSEW.HW.W.0008.081220T1700Z-081222T0000Z/
EAST PUGET SOUND LOWLANDS-
415 PM PST FRI DEC 19 2008

A high wind warning remains in effect from 9 AM Saturday to 4 PM PST Sunday...

Strong winds will develop over the East Puget Sound lowlands on Saturday morning and intensify on Saturday afternoon. This wind event will peak on Saturday night and then subside on Sunday.

At the height of this event...sustained winds could reach 50 to 70 MPH with peak gusts of 70 TO 90 MPH. The strongest winds are expected to impact communities in Eastern King County such as North Bend...Maple Valley and Enumclaw. Communities in Eastern Snohomish County such as Sultan and Gold Bar could also experience winds approaching this magnitude.

Further west along the I-405 and Highway 167 corridors...including Woodinville, Bellevue, Renton and Auburn winds of 25 to 35 MPH with gusts of 50 to 55 MPH are expected.

This event could rival a similar foothills wind storm from early December 2003. During that event ... numerous trees were blown over ... blocking residential streets and major highways alike ... including Highway 18 near Tiger Mountain. Power was knocked out to many residences and businesses for as much as a week. People need to prepare now for major disruption resulting from this windstorm. Be sure to have enough supplies on hand to last for several days should you be stranded at home. By late Saturday morning...it may be too late to prepare.

In addition...wind chill readings during this event may be near zero with air temperatures in the mid to upper 20s.

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A high wind warning means that a severe high wind event is imminent or occurring. Sustained winds of at least 50 MPH...or gusts of 75 MPH or higher will occur across the lowlands. Residents and local officials in the warned area should be prepared for widespread damage and power outages that could last for more than a week.

HANER

sigh