Potential Heavy Rain and Snow in the Pacific Northwest
PORTLAND, Ore. – On Wednesday, light rain is anticipated throughout much of the Pacific Northwest, with a stronger atmospheric river expected to move into the area later this week. This could lead to significant rainfall in coastal regions and substantial snowfall in higher elevations.
Forecasts from the FOX Prediction Center indicate that the most intense parts of the storm may shift southward, impacting southern Oregon and northern California the hardest. Cities like San Francisco, Eureka in California, and Medford in Oregon are likely to experience the storm’s peak effects over the weekend.
Atmospheric rivers, which are moisture-laden storms often originating from tropical regions, occur along the west coast, driven by jet streams. Once they make landfall, they typically bring moderate to heavy rainfall that can last for two or more days.
By the week’s end, areas in Washington state might accumulate 5 to 8 inches of rain, while broader parts of the Pacific Northwest could see between 1 to 3 inches.
The heaviest rainfall is projected from Friday into Saturday.
Considering the expected volume of rain, there’s a possibility of flooding. The NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center has issued a Level 1 flash flood threat for parts of the Northern California coast, the Oregon coast, and western Washington for Friday and Saturday.
In regions of the Cascade Mountains above 5,000 feet, snowfall could exceed 2 feet. However, it’s difficult to predict the exact total accumulation right now.
On a positive note, this rain and snow could alleviate drought conditions across the Northwest. Numerous areas within the Cascades are facing severe to extreme drought, while parts of eastern Washington, northern Idaho, and western Montana are experiencing even more severe drought levels.
Additionally, the storm is anticipated to generate 6-foot waves along parts of the coast. National Weather Service offices in both Portland, Oregon, and Eureka, California, have issued high wave surf advisories, warning of large breaking waves up to 24 feet in the surf zone.
The FOX Forecast Center is monitoring what appears to be a busy start to the rainy season, as the region might continue to see rain for several weeks ahead. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is predicting above-average precipitation for the Pacific Northwest in the coming month.
