SEATTLE — Western Washington faces a significant atmospheric river that will continue to deliver heavy rain, strong winds, and disruptive weather through Saturday.
The storm system will make for a windy Saturday, with conditions gradually improving by Sunday. Residents should secure outdoor decorations, clear storm drains of leaves and debris, and prepare for possible power outages by charging devices and gathering flashlights.
We has activated First Alert for this weather event, which could affect lives, property or travel in the Pacific Northwest region. During this event, the First Alert Weather Team will bring you the latest information to keep you and your family safe.
The combination of gusty winds and heavy rain raises concerns similar to last weekend’s storm. Many trees still have leaves, which can catch wind and clog storm drains. A lot of leaves remain on the trees possibly clogging storm drains and new growth and drought weakened trees that could fall and cause spotty power outages.
A warm front Friday morning sent snow levels up to 8,000-9,000 feet, which will send snowmelt from last week’s storm into area rivers. Rain spread across western Washington throughout the day, reaching Puget Sound by afternoon.
A Wind Advisory is in place for Saturday for most of western Washington. It stretches from Puget Sound to the Cascade foothills and onto the Olympic Peninsula, including the metro areas of Seattle, Tacoma and Everett. The advisory is in place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with gusts of up to 45 mph expected.
In addition, a Flood Watch has been issued for Mason, Skagit, Whatcom, King, and Snohomish counties Friday night through Saturday night.
Saturday brings the most intense conditions of the weekend. As a cold front moves through Puget Sound, steady rain will transition to scattered showers by afternoon. Wind gusts over 35 mph are expected, with the strongest winds likely into Saturday afternoon.
By Saturday morning, rainfall totals for Puget Sound are forecast to reach 0.75-1.50 inches on average, while mountains and coastal areas may receive over 3 inches.
Sunday offers a reprieve as leftover showers decrease and mostly end by morning, with some afternoon clearing expected. The region should catch a break Monday with sunshine before another weak system potentially brings showers Tuesday and increasing rain again Wednesday.
Rain may be heavy at times Saturday, leading to standing water on roadways and leaf-clogged storm drains. Rivers coming off the Olympics and Cascades will see sharp river rises.
The National Weather Service says the rivers most likely to reach flood stage are the Skokomish, Snohomish, Skykomish and Snoqualmie. The Skagit, Stillaguamish and Nooksack are also expected to rise, but are less likely to reach flood stage.
Additional Hazards:
On the positive side, the recent rains have effectively ended fire season and are helping reduce drought conditions in western Washington, though recovery still has a long way to go.
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