Snow may mean uglier traffic in some areas this morning

Snow is expected for this morning's commute, so the only thing to do, really, is sit down and have another cup of coffee. For if it is indeed flurrying, there's no point in hurrying.

Or losing one's sense of humor.

"This isn't a big snowstorm or anything, but it's just enough that it'll cause some inconveniences," said meteorologist Dennis D'Amico of the National Weather Service.

In some areas, including the Eastside, up to four inches of snow could accumulate, according to KING 5.

Some places in the Seattle area, including the Eastside and West Seattle, are still dealing with slick roads from snowfall last week.

Today's snow was expected to start falling about 4 a.m. and last as late as 10 a.m. It likely will turn to rain by noon, but that's still plenty of time to turn morning traffic into a mess. Or at least an inconvenience.

"Our hope is that the motoring public is getting the picture," said Trooper Jeff Merrill, spokesman for the State Patrol. "It may be in their best interest to hold off on going to work for a couple hours, because if we have a morning commute like the last two [snowy evening commutes], it doesn't matter what time they go to work. They're going to get there late."

The National Weather Service is predicting up to 3 inches of snow for areas in Western Washington, with an inch or less in Seattle.

An early-morning cold front was expected to move in off shore with just enough moisture and barely enough cold to cause snow, D'Amico said.

The good news: warmer temperatures in the forecast this week.

"Right now it just looks like some rain on Friday or Saturday," D'Amico said. "The question is, will there be enough rain to melt all the snow? ... We'll be going through that melt-freeze cycle."

That means snow that doesn't thaw with this week's above-freezing temperatures could re-freeze overnight.

"There could be some slick spots," D'Amico said. "We'll have to wait and see. It could be a highly variable situation by Wednesday morning."

Pamela Sitt: 206-464-2376 or psitt@seattletimes.com