Despite road closures and power outages Thursday afternoon, winter weather conditions are improving around Lewis County and Southwest Washington.
The National Weather Service in Seattle has lifted the ice storm warning for Lewis County and the surrounding region.
"Lewis County is at the southern end of the cold air movement," Meteorologist Brad Colman told The Chronicle shortly as the warning was lifted for Western Washington at 2 p.m.
Freezing rain fell Thursday morning and into the afternoon, creating slick roads for people trying to return to work after snow hit the region Tuesday and Wednesday.
By Thursday afternoon, temperatures were rising above freezing and Colman said the warmer temperatures should stay. The area will move into a more typical winter weather pattern by the weekend, Colman said.
Starting Friday, heavy rain is expected in the lowlands with snow in the forecast for the White Pass area. With the weather stabilizing, Colman said the concern switches to the Chehalis River, which could see possible minor flooding by next week.
