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Significant Snow Event Possible for Seattle, Portland

January 8, 2011 at 8:25PM

Substantial snow will return to the Northwest during the middle of next week,threatening to bury not only the mountains and interior, but also the typicallyrainy cities of Seattle and Portland.The potential exists for Seattle and Portland to receive significantly moresnow next week than each city averages during an entire winter.

Portland typically only records around 4 inches of snow a winter. That numberis around seven for Seattle.

The significant snow event will likely unfold Wednesday into Thursday as amoisture-ladden Pacific storm slams into the Northwest.

Pacific storms usually are rainmakers for Seattle and Portland since mild airgets funneled overhead. That will not be the case next week as the storm willencounter stubborn arctic air.

A transition to rain would occur if next week's storm tracks north of thesecities. However, significant snow totals would first be measured with a periodof ice sandwiched in.

That transition may never take place if the storm passes south of Portland,leading to excessive snowfall totals.

Regardless of which scenario pans out, residents and visitors should preparefor major disruptions to daily routines and travel.

Travel nightmares will not just be confined to the Interstate 5 corridor nextweek. The same storm could also turn into a significant snow event for Spokane,Pendleton and Wenatchee.

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The upcoming rare opportunity for snow in Seattle and Portland was recentlyhighlighted by AccuWeather.com Chief Long Range Forecaster Joe Bastardi when hestated this month would turn out to be the coldest January for the UnitedStates since 1985.

Story by AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski

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