The National Weather Service has issued a frost advisory – yes, frost –for the Tacoma area on Thursday morning.

Forecasters say an unseasonably cool air mass, coupled with clear skies and little wind, will result in temperatures dropping to the low and mid 30s overnight. A few areas could fall below freezing.

Outdoor plants should be protected from the frost, the Weather Service said.

The advisory is in effect from 1-8 a.m. in Tacoma, Olympia, southern portions of the Kitsap Peninsula and the lower Chehalis Valley.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for the Central Cascades and highway passes with up to 12 inches of snow expected to fall by Tuesday.

The advisory is in effect from 4 a.m. Monday to 5 a.m. Tuesday.

Forecasters say rain should begin falling in the Cascades tonight and continue through Monday, dropping the snow level to nearly 3,000 feet by Tuesday morning.

Mount Rainier could see 6-12 inches of powder and the highway passes could see 1-3 inches, according to the Weather Service.

A strong cold front is expected to move through Western Washington Monday, bringing rain, wind and possibly snow.

The National Weather Service issued a special weather statement today warning of cold air pouring into the region and possible slushy snow accumulations of up to 3 inches from north Seattle to Bellingham. Tacoma could see less than a half inch.

Forecasters said it should rain until Monday afternoon and snow could fall after 10 p.m. Monday. Daytime temperatures will dip to 37 after noon and nighttime temperatures could fall to the high 20s.

A southwest wind is also predicted with gusts …

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Although the rains appear to have diminished today, a flood warning remains in effect for the Puyallup River above Orting.

The river crested this morning at 7,850 cubic feet per second and is expected to fall back below the flood threshold (4,500 cubic feet per second) tonight, according to the National Weather Service.

As of 2:45 p.m., the Puyallup River flow was 5,110 cubic feet per second.

Areas most impacted by the minor flooding are Neadham Road, Orville Road East, Tomolla Tree Farm area and areas south of Brooks Road East and north of Electron Road.

The Weather Service also …

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The Stage 1 burn ban for Pierce County was lifted Monday.

The ban ended at 4 p.m., the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency reported.

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency has called for a Stage 1 burn ban to begin in Pierce County this afternoon.

The ban starts at 4 p.m. and is in effect until further notice, the agency reports.

“High pressure is building east of the Cascade Mountains through the weekend,” according to a press release. “Dry, stagnant air is expected in Pierce County, resulting in rising air pollution, especially in communities where residential wood burning is common.”

The agency reports that pollution levels could reach the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” category in some areas.

Thurston County also will be under …

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has called for a burn ban on seven Indian reservations, including the Puyallup, Nisqually and Muckleshoot reservations.

The ban takes effect Friday and will be in place until further notice. The EPA called for the ban because of stagnant air conditions in the region.

In addition to the Puyallup, Nisqually and Muckleshoot reservations, the ban also impacts the Chehalis, Colville, Spokane and Yakama reservations.

Under the ban, all outdoor and agricultural burning is prohibited. Ceremonial and traditional fires, however, are still OK.

“EPA also requests that reservation residents reduce all sources of air pollution, including …

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The Washington State Patrol said its troopers responded to 4,014 incidents over a 10-day span in Pierce and Thurston counties during the snow and ice storms earlier this month.

The incidents included collisions, disabled vehicles, debris blocking the road, downed trees, medical emergencies and finding erratic drivers.

During the same time period, the State Patrol dispatchers fielded 3,985 911 calls in Pierce and Thurston counties.