Ice Storm — Bellevue and Vicinity, Washington

2022-12-23 · Bellevue and Vicinity, Washington

Event narrative

An ice storm during the morning and afternoon hours on the 23rd resulted in major impacts across the Bellevue area just before the Christmas holiday. Reports around the area from social media included: 0.10-0.15 inches of ice around Sammamish and Woodinville. The highest reports were out of Kirkland and Issaquah where 0.25 inches and 0.30 inches were reported, respectively.

Wider weather episode

After a series of snow events in the lowlands and mountains of western Washington, a system off the Pacific brought a modifying airmass towards the area right before the Christmas holiday. Warmer Pacific air was able to overrun lingering cold air very near the surface, producing a warm layer of classic characteristic of a freezing rain profile. As such, measurable ice accumulation led to hazardous impacts across the area, most noticeably to roadways and travel.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1073539. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.