It's the most wonderful time of the year, so the song says, and it's also that time of year when travelers are wondering one thing: what will the weather be like on the mountain passes?

Of course, those who are staying closer to home may also begin to wonder, if the mountain passes are getting slammed with snow, what will that mean for us here in the Yakima Valley? Forecasters seem fairly certain about the answers to both questions.

Will it Snow in the Washington Mountain Passes This Weekend?

In a word, Yes. Up to a couple of feet of possible accumulations. Here's the forecast from the Washington State Department of Transportation website:

Forecast for Stevens Pass, U.S. Highway 2

Friday

Fog
Patchy dense fog until late afternoon. A chance of rain and snow in the morning. Rain and snow in the afternoon. Snow level near 2000 feet. Snow may be heavy at times in the afternoon. Snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches. Afternoon pass temperatures in the mid-20s to lower 30s. West wind in the passes around 10 mph. Gusts to 20 mph in the afternoon.

Friday Night

Snow

Rain and snow in the evening, then rain, snow, and a chance of light freezing rain after midnight. Snow level near 3000 feet. Snow may be heavy at times. Snow accumulation of 5 to 10 inches. Total snow accumulation 10 to 21 inches. Southwest wind in the passes 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 30 mph.

Saturday

Snow
Rain, snow, and a chance of light freezing rain. Snow level near 3000 feet. Snow may be heavy at times. Afternoon pass temperatures in the lower to mid-30s. Southwest wind in the passes 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 35 mph.

Saturday Night

Snow
Rain, snow, and a chance of light freezing rain. Snow level near 1500 feet. Snow may be heavy at times in the evening. Southwest wind in the passes around 10 mph with gusts to 30 mph.

Sunday

Snow
Rain, snow, and a chance of light freezing rain in the morning, then rain, snow, and a slight chance of light freezing rain in the afternoon. Snow level near 1000 feet
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Forecast for Snoqualmie Pass, I-90

Friday

Fog
Patchy dense fog until late afternoon. A chance of rain and snow in the morning. Rain and snow in the afternoon. Snow level near 2000 feet. Snow may be heavy at times in the afternoon. Snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches. Afternoon pass temperatures in the mid-20s to lower 30s. West wind in the passes around 10 mph. Gusts to 20 mph in the afternoon.

Friday Night

Snow
Rain and snow in the evening, then rain, snow, and a chance of light freezing rain after midnight. Snow level near 3000 feet. Snow may be heavy at times. Snow accumulation of 5 to 10 inches. Total snow accumulation 10 to 21 inches. Southwest wind in the passes 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 30 mph.

Saturday

Snow
Rain, snow, and a chance of light freezing rain. Snow level near 3000 feet. Snow may be heavy at times. Afternoon pass temperatures in the lower to mid-30s. Southwest wind in the passes 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 35 mph.

Saturday Night

Snow
Rain, snow, and a chance of light freezing rain. Snow level near 1500 feet. Snow may be heavy at times in the evening. Southwest wind in the passes around 10 mph with gusts to 30 mph.

Sunday

Snow
Rain, snow, and a chance of light freezing rain in the morning, then rain, snow, and a slight chance of light freezing rain in the afternoon. Snow level near 1000 feet.
Heavy snow at times and gusty winds will make for some potentially treacherous driving conditions in the Washington Cascade Mountain Passes this weekend.

Is Yakima Expected to see Snow This Weekend?

Some snow activity is possible but compared to what we're going to see in the mountains, not significant by any means. Rain is the primary form of precipitation forecasters are calling for, with slight snow-rain mixtures by Saturday night. For weather and pass conditions 24/7 check the station app for real-time information.

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