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While weather forecasts over the weekend called for a cold and potentially snowy Monday night, the National Weather Service now expects it to be  dry and not quite as chilly as first thought when the Seahawks kick off against the New Orleans Saints at CenturyLink Field tonight.

A frigid front is taking its time arriving from Canada,  leaving midday temperatures at a higher-than-expected 45 degrees in Seattle and causing the National Weather Service to project temperatures in the upper 30s when the game starts at 5:40 p.m. That’s a far cry from the earlier prediction of temperatures in the upper 20s to lower 30s. Still, 39 degrees is no cakewalk.

A meteorologist cautioned there is a 30 percent chance of precipitation before 10 tonight., but said we  ”probably won’t get anything.”

Break out the mittens and mufflers; cold weather is on its way.

The National Weather Service says residents of Western Washington can expect to wake up Monday to temperatures a lot like they were most of Sunday — in the 40s — but that through the day the mercury is going to take a dive. By the time the Seattle Seahawks suit up for the game against the New Orleans Saints Monday night, it’s going to be close to freezing and getting colder by the hour.

Meteorologist Josh Smith says there might even  be a few snow flurries during the game, but don’t expect snow to stick to the roads near Puget Sound. There could be some small accumulations inland above 500 feet, he said.

The cold temperatures are expected to stay through the week, bringing drier air to the region, Smith said.  Strong, cold winds will move south from Canada through Bellingham, with bitter temperatures expected in the area.

Smith reported that minor flooding was expected along the Puyallup River near Orting.

All the cooking oil and grease from holiday feasts can be converted into environmentally friendly fuel instead of clogging your drain, according to the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks.

The county is partnering with General Biodiesel to create several drop-off locations for oil and grease throughout King County. They can be used 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Sealed containers of grease can be taken to the following locations and slowly poured into disposal tanks:

• Bellevue: 15801 N.E .15th St.
• Burien: 634 S.W. 151st St.
• Federal lWay: 31531 First Ave. S.
• Mercer Island: 3605 84th Ave. S.W.
• Redmond: 8703 160th Ave. N.E.
• Renton: 501 Monster Rd. S.W.
• Sammamish: 630 228th Ave. N.E.
• Shoreline: 15505 Westminster Way N.
• Seattle: 1801 41st Ave. E., 6333 First Ave. S. and 54 S. Dawson St.

The confirmation of a measles case in a King County infant has health officials asking the public to be on the lookout for symptoms of the infection and to make sure their vaccinations are up-to-date.

The infant was too young to have been vaccinated and likely was exposed to measles while overseas, according to a release from Public Health – Seattle & King County.

From Public Health:

Measles is a highly contagious and potentially severe disease that causes fever, rash, cough, and red, watery eyes. It is mainly spread through the air after a person with measles coughs or sneezes.

Measles symptoms begin seven to 21 days after exposure. Measles is contagious from approximately four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appears. People can spread measles before they have the characteristic measles rash.

People at highest risk from exposure to measles include those who are unvaccinated, pregnant women, infants under 6 months of age and those with weakened immune systems.

The King County baby may have exposed others during a contagious period at the following locations:

SeaTac

• Sea-Tac Airport, Nov. 17, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: S Gate, customs, baggage claim

Seattle

• Arbor Place Tower, 121 Vine Street: lobby and elevators
  • Nov. 17, 1-5 p.m.
  • Nov. 18,  Noon-11 p.m.
  • Nov. 19, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
  • Nov. 23, 4–8:30 a.m.
  • Nov. 25, 7-9 p.m.
  • Nov. 26, Midnight–2 a.m.
• Rite Aid, 2603 Third Ave., Nov. 18, 1-3 p.m.
• Macy’s, 1601 Third Ave., Nov. 19, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Ross Dress for Less, 301 Pike St., Nov. 19, 1-3:15 p.m.
• Target, 1401 Second Ave., Nov. 19, 1:15-3:45 p.m.

Tukwila

• Ross Dress for Less, 17672 Southcenter Pkwy., Nov. 18, 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
• Seafood City, 1368 Southcenter Mall, #100, Nov. 18, 8 p.m.-10:30 p.m.

Public-health officials say the risk to the general public is low because most people are immune to measles through vaccination. Those who have not been vaccinated and may have been exposed should call for treatment if they notice the following symptoms: fever, red and watery eyes, and illness with an unexplained rash.

To prevent further spread of the disease, those who want to have a doctor evaluate them for possible infection should not go to a hospital or clinic without calling first. More information about measles is available in several languages at the Public Health – Seattle & King County website .

The Mariners and Seattle Public Utilities are teaming up to give away free Felix Hernandez-themed compost bins. (Seattle Public Utilities photo)

The Mariners and Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) are giving out free, Felix Hernandez-themed compost bins next week in hopes of that Seattle residents will cut down their holiday “wasteline.”

The “collector’s edition” kitchen caddies will be available at four locations Monday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to those who pledge to recycle and compost more of their trash, according to a utilities release. Those sites are:

• Seattle Tilth – Good Shepherd Center Room 107, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N, Suite 100, Seattle 98103
• CleanScapes – 117 S. Main St., Suite 300, Seattle 98104
• SE Neighborhood Service Center – 3815 S. Othello St., Suite 105, Seattle 98118
• SW Neighborhood Service Center – 2801 S.W. Thistle St., Seattle 98106-1479

According to SPU, Seattle residents helped divert more than 125,000 tons of food scraps and yard debris from landfills through composting last year.

Update | 9 p.m.

President Obama arrived at the Westin Seattle Hotel around 8:55 p.m., ending his evening of fundraising in the Puget Sound.

The president had left the Medina fundraiser about 15 minutes earlier, driving past dozens of people who had stayed to watch the motorcade leave.

Obama is scheduled to leave Sea-Tac at 8:50 a.m. Monday, heading for fundraisers around Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Update | 8:45 p.m.

At the second fundraiser of the evening, Obama spoke about poiltics, policy and the Pacific Northwest in a large room that resembled a museum gallery, with modern art paintings on the walls, sculptures on the floors and mobiles hanging from the ceiling.

Obama told the roughly 60 attendees that he’s “incredibly optimistic about the future,” citing reduce oil imports, health care progress and the return of manufacturing to America.

The president said he’s “pretty pragmatic” and will work with Republicans whenever possible. But “those opportunities have been few and far between,” he said.

Obama also spoke of the “spectacular” view of Mount Rainier while landing at Sea-Tac.

“You’ve got a good thing going here and it’s not just the Seahawks,” he said.

Also in attendance: Gov. Jay Inslee, U.S. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and three Democratic members of Washington’s congressional delegation: Rick Larsen, Suzan DelBene and Derek Kilmer.

The president is now headed to Seattle, where he’s expected to stay the night at the Westin hotel before heading to California for more fundraisers.

For more: Check out our photo gallery, read our preview story and follow reporters Jim Brunner, Lornet Turnbull and Steve Miletich on Twitter.

Update | 8 p.m.

Obama is speaking now with attendees at his second fundraiser of the evening, in Medina.

He is expected to stay the night in the Seattle area before attending similar fundraisers Monday in California.

A crowd greets President Obama’s motorcade as it arrives outside the Medina home of Jon Shirley. (Photo by Marcus Yam/The Seattle Times)

Update | 6:40 p.m.

Obama has left the first fundraiser and is now headed to a second at the Medina home of former Microsoft executive Jon Shirley.

That $16,200-per-person dinner and cocktail reception, to benefit the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), also will feature House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and DCCC Chairman Steve Israel, D-N.Y., according to an invitation.

Update | 5:38 p.m.

More than 150 protesters and onlookers awaited Obama as he pulled into his first fundraiser — at the North Seattle home of Sonya and Tom Campion — at about 5:15 p.m.

Most of the protesters were focused on the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline, chanting things like ”Hey, Obama, we don’t want your pipeline drama.”

The Obama administration will decide the fate of the proposed pipeline, which would ship crude oil from Canada and the northern United States to refineries in the south. An environmental impact statement is expected soon.

The protesters also appeared interested in foreign policy issues; one held a sign saying “How many more drones?”

Obama is scheduled to attend a $20,000-per-person “discussion” at the Campions before heading to a second fundraiser Medina.

President Obama’s motorcade arrives for a private fundraiser amidst hundreds of spectators and anti-Keystone XL protesters near the home of North Seattle business owner Tom Campion. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson / The Seattle Times)

Update | 4:25 p.m.

Air Force One has landed at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

After landing at around 4:15 p.m, Obama waved at the crowd and paused a few moments. Then he appeared to look at Mount Rainier and say “wow.”

The president was on the road by 4:30 p.m., heading toward a fundraiser at the North Seattle home of Sonya and Tom Campion.

President Obama arrives at Seatle-Tacoma International Airport on Sunday. (Photo by Bettina Hansen/The Seattle Times)

Original post | 3:36 p.m.

Seattle police are getting ready for President Obama’s visit to the Seattle area to attend two fundraisers, one in North Seattle and the other on the Eastside in Medina.

Both are at private homes and there are no events planned for the general public.

However, the public is sure to affected by street closures and other measures being taken by law-enforcement agencies.

A police officer knocks on the door of a home to ask the residents to move their vehicle so police can fit a large SWAT van on the side of the road across the street from the residence off Third Avenue Northwest. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson / Seattle Times)

An Asa Mercer Middle School classroom in Seattle’s Beacon Hill was set on fire early Sunday morning after computers were stolen from the campus.

When the Seattle Fire Department responded to a 1:30 a.m. fire alarm in the 1600 block of South Columbian Way, firefighters found someone had forced their way into a portable classroom and set it on fire.

Seattle Police Department detectives believe computers were stolen from the classroom before it was set on fire by a suspect or suspects.

The fatally injured young man found near Interstate 5 in Everett on Monday has been identified as Zachary E. Mori, 20, of Everett.

According to MyEverettNews, state troopers were called to his aid at 3:29 a.m. He was unconscious but breathing when they arrived. He later died at a hospital.

The Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office said Mori died of blunt-force injuries to his head and torso after he was found on the shoulder of I-5 near the 75th Street Southeast overpass.

The medical examiner and the  Washington State Patrol have not determined whether foul play was involved in Mori’s death.

An 82-year-old woman rescued Tuesday from a North Seattle fire caused by smoking materials has died of her injuries.

Her husband, who suffered smoke inhalation in the fire in the 11700 block of 22nd Avenue Northeast, is still at Harborview Medical Center, but in satisfactory condition, said hospital spokeswoman Susan Gregg. Firefighters rescued him on Tuesday after he went looking for his wife through heavy smoke.

Seattle firefighters found Anna Moore unconscious just after noon in a bathtub on the first floor of her home. Medics revived her pulse on the way to Harborview, but she died Wednesday morning, Gregg said.

Seattle Fire Department spokesman Kyle Moore said the fire was caused by improperly discarded smoking materials and has been labeled an accident.

Seattle police are looking for who stole at least 15 laptops from four University District sorority and fraternity houses in the past week.

In each of the home invasions, the first of which was reported Friday, the burglar or burglars sneaked into the houses between midnight and 8 a.m. while residents were either sleeping or partying, according to the Seattle Police Department. The laptops were stolen from common areas and study rooms.

The majority of the laptops were stolen from sorority houses on the 4700 block of 19th Avenue Northeast and the 4500 block of 18th Avenue Northeast. Home invasions also occurred on the 4500 block of 17th Avenue Northeast and the 2100 block of Northeast 47th Street.

One sorority reported that makeup had been stolen along with the laptops.

The thefts were reported between Nov. 1 and Nov. 5. At least one of the burglaries reportedly happened during a Halloween party.