Special Statement
Statement as of 4:07 PM PDT on May 20, 2013

... A change to cold and wet weather in the mountains starting
Tuesday and continuing through the week...

Cold air will move into western Washington Monday night and
Tuesday. The cold air will remain over the area through the end of
the week. The snow level in the mountains will drop to 4500 feet
Tuesday afternoon then down to 3500 feet Tuesday night and
Wednesday.

Snow will accumulate at times at high elevations Tuesday afternoon
through Wednesday or Thursday. Higher Highway passes that have
opened for the Summer... including Rainy Pass and Chinook Pass...
will likely get a few to several inches of snow. Stevens and white
passes could also get some snow. Little or no snowfall is forecast
for Snoqualmie Pass.

Hikers and climbers may want to postpone any trips into the
mountains this week... especially at higher elevations. If you
go... be prepared for accumulating snow above 4000 feet starting
later Tuesday and continuing through at least Wednesday night.

Drivers crossing the Cascades should consider using one of the
lower passes such as Snoqualmie Pass. Allow extra time for mountain
journeys this week.

Burke
National Weather Service Seattle

326 am PDT Mon may 20 2013

... A change to cold and wet weather is expected in the mountains
starting Tuesday and continuing through much of the upcoming
week...

A cold weather system in the Yukon is expected to drop rapidly
southward tonight and move into the Pacific northwest Tuesday
through the upcoming week. Snow levels in the mountains are
expected to rapidly drop to 4500 feet Tuesday afternoon then down
to 3500 feet Tuesday night and Wednesday. The colder and wet
weather will follow a deceptively warm... dry and sunny day today.

Accumulating snow should be expected at times at high elevations
Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday or Thursday. This would impact
Highway passes that have already opened for the Summer...
including Rainy Pass and Chinook Pass. Stevens and white passes
could also be impacted. The impact of snowfall on Snoqualmie Pass
is expected to be small.

Hikers and climbers venturing into the mountains will want to be
prepared for a quick change to cold and wet weather on
Tuesday... especially following a deceptively warm and sunny
Monday. From 4000 feet and up... be prepared for accumulating snow
starting later Tuesday and continuing through at least Wednesday
night. Drivers needing to cross over the higher Cascade passes on
Wednesday will want to allow extra time for the journey... or
consider using a lower pass... such as Snoqualmie Pass.

Stay tuned for the latest forecasts and updates early this week.