Flood Watches issued as new atmospheric river takes aim at the Pacific Northwest
A very soggy October in the Pacific Northwest is about to take another drenching as a new atmospheric river takes aim.
Another Atmospheric River takes aim at the Pacific Northwest
(CIRA/RAMMB / NOAA)
SEATTLE -- A very soggy October in the Pacific Northwest is about to take another drenching as a new atmospheric river takes aim.
(FOX Weather)
Flood Watches have been posted on several rivers across eight counties in Western Washington, including mountain-fed rivers in the eastern Puget Sound area. Flood Watches extend into north-central Washington as heavy rains fall on burn scars from wildfires over the summer.
READ: What is an Atmospheric River
(FOX Weather)
Rain is expected to develop from south to north across Western Washington late Wednesday, and moderate to heavy rain will fall through Thursday into early Friday morning before heading south into Oregon and tapering off by Friday night.
(FOX Weather)
With snow levels rising to 8,000 to 10,000 feet, snowfall will be limited and instead, 2-3 inches of rain, with the potential to reach 3-5 inches, will fall across the Olympic Mountains and northern and central Cascade Mountains.
With rivers running high from the rains earlier this week, many rivers will near or perhaps exceed flood stage by Thursday afternoon into Thursday night. The Flood Watch includes some of the larger rivers in the area, such as the Snoqualmie, Skagit and Skykomish Rivers.
(FOX Weather)
Already, the flood-prone Skokomish River on the eastern slopes of the Olympic Mountains is under a flood warning, with moderate flooding expected.
Seattle has had seven consecutive days with measurable rain -- a streak that will likely reach 10 days Friday, but drier weather is expected to let the Northwest wring out over the weekend.