Snow in Seattle is always a bit of a coin toss. One minute we’re looking at a standard drizzle, and the next, the entire city is sliding down Queen Anne Hill like a chaotic scene from a low-budget disaster movie. Honestly, it’s just how we live here.
But right now, the chatter is picking up again because more snow is forecast for the Seattle area over the next several days. If you’ve lived here for more than a winter, you know the drill: the grocery stores will be stripped of kale and bread within hours, and the I-5 Ship Canal Bridge will suddenly feel like an Olympic luge track.
This isn't just people being dramatic on Twitter. The data is starting to lean toward a "white" transition as we move deeper into the week.
The actual numbers: When is it hitting?
If you look at the current forecast for Friday, January 16, 2026, it’s actually looking pretty decent during the day. We’re hitting a high of 51°F with mostly sunny skies. It’s that crisp, "maybe I should have worn a slightly heavier flannel" kind of weather. But don't let the sun fool you.
The real shift starts showing up in the long-range models around Monday night, January 19.
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According to the latest meteorological data, Monday night carries a 10% chance of snow as temperatures dip toward a low of 37°F. Now, 10% sounds like nothing, right? In most cities, that’s a "don’t worry about it" percentage. In Seattle, that’s the "keep the salt bag by the front door" percentage.
A week of "maybe" snow
The forecast for the rest of the week is basically a rolling series of snow chances. Here is what the specific daily outlook looks like:
- Tuesday, Jan 20: Both day and night have a 10% chance of snow, with highs hovering around 48°F.
- Wednesday, Jan 21: The chance holds at 10% during the day and drops slightly to 5% at night.
- Thursday, Jan 22: We stay consistent with a 10% chance during the day and 5% at night.
- Friday, Jan 23: Still looking at a 10% chance of snow during the day before it potentially turns into light rain at night.
We’re basically living in a 10% snow bubble for five days straight. It’s that weird atmospheric limbo where the temperature is just high enough to keep things wet, but any slight drop in the mercury or a rogue moisture pocket from the Sound could turn those raindrops into flakes.
Why Seattle snow is such a mess
It’s easy for people from the Midwest to laugh at us. They’ve got flat roads and salt trucks that actually exist. We have hills that are essentially vertical and a city budget that treats snowplows like rare artifacts.
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The main reason more snow is forecast for the Seattle area is often tied to the "Puget Sound Convergence Zone." It’s this weird weather phenomenon where air gets split by the Olympic Mountains and then slams back together over the Sound. This can create "micro-bursts" of snow where Northgate gets buried under three inches while West Seattle is just slightly damp.
Also, our snow is "wet snow." It’s heavy. It’s slippery. It turns into a sheet of ice the second the sun goes down and the temperature hits 31°F.
The I-5 Ship Canal Bridge factor
You also have to consider the massive construction project currently hitting the city. WSDOT is in the middle of the "Revive I-5" project on the Ship Canal Bridge. They just started a major northbound lane reduction on January 12, which is supposed to last until June.
If we get even a dusting of snow, that construction zone becomes a bottleneck from hell. WSDOT has already issued warnings for travelers to slow down on ice and carry chains, especially with the limited lane capacity. They’re basically telling us: "Look, we’re fixing the bridge, but if it snows, please just stay home."
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What to actually do about it
Look, I’m not saying you need to build a bunker. But since more snow is forecast for the Seattle area, there are a few things that actually make sense to do before Monday night hits.
First, check your tires. If you’re running on bald summer tires, you’re not just a danger to yourself; you’re the person who’s going to block the Mercer exit for six hours.
Second, the WSDOT mobile app is actually pretty good for real-time alerts. They update the Travel Center Map constantly. If the "snow chance" starts turning into "actual accumulation," that map will light up like a Christmas tree.
Third, acknowledge the limits of the forecast. We’re in a transition period from a weak La Niña toward a neutral ENSO state (there’s even talk of El Niño returning by late summer 2026). This makes winter weather patterns incredibly "fringe." We could get hit with a surprise three-inch dump, or we could just have a very cold, very gray week of drizzle.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your trunk: Make sure you have an ice scraper and maybe an old blanket. It sounds overkill until you're stuck on the viaduct.
- Monitor Monday night: Keep an eye on the 10% snow chance for Jan 19. If the "low" temperature drops even two degrees in the next update, that percentage is going to climb fast.
- Plan your commute: If you usually take I-5 North, remember the Ship Canal Bridge lane reductions are already in effect. Give yourself an extra 30 minutes, snow or no snow.