Rare June atmospheric river storms wind down in Northwest after record-breaking rainfall in Seattle, Portland
The first atmospheric river storm brought record-breaking rainfall totals to Seattle and Portland, Oregon, on Sunday.
Weather in America: June 4, 2024
FOX Weather has you covered with the breaking forecasts and weather news headlines for your Weather in America on Tuesday, June 4, 2024. Get the latest from FOX Weather Meteorologist Britta Merwin.
SEATTLE – Another round of precipitation and windy conditions associated with back-to-back atmospheric river storms in the Northwest will continue to push across portions of Washington State and Oregon on Tuesday.
However, forecasters with the National Weather Service office in Seattle said conditions won’t be as wet as they were with the first atmospheric river storm, which set daily rainfall records in both Seattle and Portland, Oregon on Sunday.
The rain lightened up a bit on Monday. Seattle picked up 0.34 inches of rain, far behind the June 3 record of 1.08 inches back in 1990. Portland reported picking up 0.25 inches on Monday, which was also behind its record of 0.71 inches in 2008.
Flood alerts remain in effect across portions of western Washington through Wednesday morning.
(FOX Weather)
The NWS said the heaviest rainfall will be found in the mountains, where an additional 1-2 inches of rain could fall on Tuesday while totals along the coast should remain between 0.25 and 0.50 inches.
A few hundredths of an inch to a half-inch of rain is also possible across the interior lowlands on Tuesday.
However, the NWS says some thunderstorms are possible on Tuesday which can lead to locally higher rainfall amounts on Tuesday. And while forecasts show rivers will remain below flood stage, tree debris from gusty winds may clog urban drains, and standing water and minor flooding will be possible.
In addition to the rain, which forecasters say should begin to taper off during the afternoon hours, winds will also be high.
The NWS said winds will be between 15 and 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph possible. Those winds were expected to die down late Tuesday morning or in the early afternoon hours.
THESE ARE THE RAINIEST HOUR AND MINUTE IN AMERICAN HISTORY
Big shift to hot and dry pattern in the West
Triple-digit heat in West becomes life-threatening for millions
Dangerous heat continues to build across much of the West this week as an early-season heat wave grips the region.
But the winter throwback is taking a radical shift into summer in the West.
SCORCHING TRIPLE-DIGIT HEAT ESCALATES TO LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION FOR 20 MILLION IN WEST
While the Northwest quickly shifts to a sunny and warm pattern with highs climbing well into the 80s, the first major heat wave of the season is set to sweep across California and the Southwest, and temperatures are expected to climb dangerously high there reaching well beyond 100 degrees starting on Tuesday.
Daily temperature records will be threatened across the region, and forecasters say the heat will be slow to leave, which could lead to dangerously high temperatures into next week.