A powerful winter storm moving across Washington state is forecast to deliver heavy snowfall in the Cascade Mountains, but Seattle itself is unlikely to experience significant snow as the system moves through the region.

Meteorologists say the storm will primarily impact higher elevations, where several feet of snow could accumulate in parts of the Cascades.

The developing system is expected to intensify as it moves inland, bringing blizzard conditions to mountainous terrain while lowland areas receive heavy rain.

In Seattle and other cities around Puget Sound, temperatures are expected to remain above freezing through much of the storm, keeping precipitation largely in the form of rain.

Daytime highs in the city are forecast to remain in the 40s to low 50s Fahrenheit, conditions that generally prevent snow accumulation near sea level.

Forecasters note that snow levels may temporarily drop during colder periods of the storm, potentially producing a brief rain-and-snow mix in some lowland locations.

However, the marine air flowing in from the Pacific Ocean typically keeps coastal and urban areas such as Seattle too mild for sustained snowfall.

The most significant winter weather is expected across the Cascades, where snowfall totals could exceed a foot in some locations and mountain passes may experience difficult travel conditions.

Authorities have warned drivers to prepare for rapidly changing conditions, chain requirements, and possible closures as snow intensifies in higher elevations.

Meanwhile, heavy rainfall is forecast across western Washington’s lowlands, including the Seattle metropolitan area.

Rivers fed by Olympic Mountain watersheds could rise during the period of persistent rain, though major flooding is not currently expected.

The storm is part of a broader weather pattern affecting the Pacific Northwest this week, combining cold air with moist Pacific systems that deliver heavy precipitation.

Such patterns frequently produce dramatic contrasts in the region, with deep mountain snow occurring at the same time that nearby coastal cities experience steady rain.

While Seattle occasionally receives late-season snow in March, forecasters emphasize that it is relatively rare.

The current outlook suggests that residents of the city will most likely experience a cold and rainy stretch of weather rather than a true blizzard, while ski areas and mountain communities prepare for significant snowfall.