PORT ANGELES — A winter storm watch is in effect through this evening for the Eastern Strait of Juan De Fuca, with heavy mixed precipitation possible with up to 5 inches of snow and one-tenth of an inch of ice.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty in the forecast, but that’s where it’s trending,” said Jacob DeFlitch, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service (NWS) in Seattle.
Forecasting for the Strait of Juan De Fuca can be challenging, DeFlitch said, as the area is rain shadowed from weather coming from the west, which can create drier conditions on the North Olympic Peninsula, while cold air from the north often hits the Olympic Mountains, causing lower temperatures and increased snowfall.
Forecasters were mostly concerned with areas of the West End. Seiku and Clallam Bay was anticipated to have heavier snowfall, particularly in inland areas around U.S. Highway 101. A winter storm warning was posted on Tuesday afternoon.
“That’s the area we’re a little more concerned with,” DeFlitch said. “There could be heavy snow raining up to 5 inches, certainly could be higher inland a bit.”
NWS predicted snow and freezing rain overnight Tuesday with a 100 percent forecast for precipitation Wednesday, coming as rain and possibly up to a half-inch of new snow accumulation.
Daytime temperatures are expected in the mid-40s through the week with nighttime lows in the mid- to low 30s. Rain is forecast beginning Thursday and continuing through the weekend.
Winter weather is expected to create hazardous road conditions, NWS said.
Hurricane Ridge Road was closed Tuesday until at least Friday when, weather permitting, the road will reopen.
The Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Club said that members hoped to be able to open the ski and snowboard area this coming weekend.
Waterhole Snotel site reported 30 inches of snow on Tuesday.
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Reporter Peter Segall can be reached at peter.segall@peninsula dailynews.com.
