The chance of snow in the forecast is baaaaaack, and this time it’s WEARING A WATCH!

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SEATTLE HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH…IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING.

SNOW IS POSSIBLE ON THURSDAY AND THURSDAY EVENING ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST INTERIOR AND GREATER PUGET SOUND REGION. THE GREATEST SNOW AMOUNTS ARE MOST LIKELY OVER THE SOUTHWEST INTERIOR AND THE SOUTH PART OF THE KITSAP PENINSULA. LESSER AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED FROM SEATTLE NORTHWARD.

A DEVELOPING FRONTAL SYSTEM WILL BRING PRECIPITATION TO SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON AS EARLY AS MID-MORNING THURSDAY…SPREADING UP OVER THE PUGET SOUND REGION DURING THE EARLY TO MID AFTERNOON. IF THE SYSTEM ENDS UP BEING SLOWER…PRECIPITATION OVER PUGET SOUND COULD BE DELAYED TO LATE IN THE AFTERNOON. INITIALLY THE PRECIPITATION SHOULD BEGIN AS RAIN…BUT THEN CHANGE OVER TO SNOW AS THE AIR COOLS.

UNCERTAINTY STILL EXISTS ABOUT HOW MUCH SNOW WILL ACCUMULATE. IT WILL DEPEND UPON HOW STRONG THE APPROACHING SYSTEM TURNS OUT TO BE…AND HOW QUICKLY THE PRECIPITATION CHANGES FROM RAIN TO SNOW. AT THIS POINT…UP TO 4 INCHES OF ACCUMULATION IS POSSIBLE IN THE SOUTHWEST INTERIOR WITH LESSER AMOUNTS ELSEWHERE. THE SNOW IS EXPECTED TO TAPER OFF LATER THURSDAY EVENING.

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

So, expect a sloppy commute home, happy Florida natives, and Jim Forman BRAVING THE STORM… LIVE ON KING 5!!!!!