SEATTLE (AP) - The Pacific Northwest’s first major storm of the season has reached the Seattle area but the city’s weather woes may have only just begun.
The National Weather Service on Sunday issued a winter weather advisory for both the Seattle and Portland metro areas in effect through the Monday morning commute.
Snow began hitting the ground Sunday afternoon in Seattle, which could see up to 2 inches (5.08 centimeters) of snow and very slippery road conditions. More snow is possible in the coming days and below-freezing temperatures are expected by midweek.
Snow is expected to start later Sunday in the Portland metro area, which could see 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) to 4 inches (10.16 centimeters) of snow by Monday.
Other parts of Oregon are also facing severe weather, including beach hazards like sneaker waves out on the coast and avalanche warnings on Mount Hood outside of Portland.
More snow is also in the forecast in parts of eastern Washington and northern Idaho.
The weather service said Spokane could see another 3 inches (7.62 centimeters) of snow on Sunday, after a 7-inch (17.78-centimeter) dump hit the city on Friday. The last storm set a record for snowfall and caused more than 100 crashes.
The weather service on Sunday also issued a winter storm warning for Idaho’s Northern Panhandle, forecasting that up to 12 inches (30.48 centimeters) may fall by Monday morning in the mountains.
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