Parade of storms to unleash inches of rain, feet of snow in northwestern US into early next week
By
Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Oct 15, 2019 3:25 PM EDT
The Pacific storm train that began at midweek will keep rolling through the Northwest into early next week with more bouts of rain and disruptive snow.
Motorists venturing over the passes or along the highways at lower elevations will need to be wary of the continued threat for rain and snow slowing travel.
None of the storms appear to be powerful enough to bring widespread damaging winds, but they will bring rounds of rain and mountain snow and periodic blustery conditions.
Snow levels will vary with each storm but will dip down to pass level on occasion in the Washington Cascades. Meanwhile, episodes of rain can briefly be heavy enough to cause isolated urban flooding in the Interstate 5 corridor of Washington and Oregon. This risk may be greatest with a storm rolling ashore early this weekend.
On Saturday, accumulating snow is forecast to dip to Stevens Pass, and perhaps at slightly lower elevations, including Snoqualmie Pass, Washington, along Interstate 90.
Episodes of poor visibility, falling temperatures and gusty winds will accompany the storm into the weekend. Yet another storm is likely to follow Sunday into Monday. Through early next week, several feet of snow may pile up over the high country.
Hikers venturing into the high country will be at risk for becoming stranded in the pattern.
In terms of rainfall, much of the western portions of Washington and Oregon have been abnormally dry in recent weeks. The weather pattern into next week may help many areas get back on track and then some.
It is possible that, as the pattern continues into next week, too much rain may fall and raise the risk of mudslides and other debris flows. Through Wednesday, Oct. 23, a foot of rain may fall on the western slopes of the Washington Cascades and Olympic range at lower elevations.
Similar and perhaps heavier amounts of low-elevation rain and mountain snow are anticipated over the Coast Mountains in British Columbia, and somewhat lower amounts of rain and snow are likely along the west-facing slopes of the Oregon Cascades and Coast Ranges.
A few rain showers may survive the trip east of the Cascades over the central counties of Washington and Oregon in the pattern. Such will be the case with the storm on Saturday. Meanwhile, portions of eastern Washington and Oregon can pick up an inch or two of rain over the seven-day period with a few inches of snow in store for the higher elevations in northern Idaho and western Montana.
The pattern will also help to end concerns for wildfires over much of the Northwest.
However, fire weather will continue over California into next week.
Download the free AccuWeather app to see the latest forecast for your region. Keep checking back for updates on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo
News / Weather News
Parade of storms to unleash inches of rain, feet of snow in northwestern US into early next week
By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Oct 15, 2019 3:25 PM EDT
The Pacific storm train that began at midweek will keep rolling through the Northwest into early next week with more bouts of rain and disruptive snow.
Motorists venturing over the passes or along the highways at lower elevations will need to be wary of the continued threat for rain and snow slowing travel.
None of the storms appear to be powerful enough to bring widespread damaging winds, but they will bring rounds of rain and mountain snow and periodic blustery conditions.
Snow levels will vary with each storm but will dip down to pass level on occasion in the Washington Cascades. Meanwhile, episodes of rain can briefly be heavy enough to cause isolated urban flooding in the Interstate 5 corridor of Washington and Oregon. This risk may be greatest with a storm rolling ashore early this weekend.
On Saturday, accumulating snow is forecast to dip to Stevens Pass, and perhaps at slightly lower elevations, including Snoqualmie Pass, Washington, along Interstate 90.
Episodes of poor visibility, falling temperatures and gusty winds will accompany the storm into the weekend. Yet another storm is likely to follow Sunday into Monday. Through early next week, several feet of snow may pile up over the high country.
Hikers venturing into the high country will be at risk for becoming stranded in the pattern.
In terms of rainfall, much of the western portions of Washington and Oregon have been abnormally dry in recent weeks. The weather pattern into next week may help many areas get back on track and then some.
It is possible that, as the pattern continues into next week, too much rain may fall and raise the risk of mudslides and other debris flows. Through Wednesday, Oct. 23, a foot of rain may fall on the western slopes of the Washington Cascades and Olympic range at lower elevations.
Related:
Similar and perhaps heavier amounts of low-elevation rain and mountain snow are anticipated over the Coast Mountains in British Columbia, and somewhat lower amounts of rain and snow are likely along the west-facing slopes of the Oregon Cascades and Coast Ranges.
A few rain showers may survive the trip east of the Cascades over the central counties of Washington and Oregon in the pattern. Such will be the case with the storm on Saturday. Meanwhile, portions of eastern Washington and Oregon can pick up an inch or two of rain over the seven-day period with a few inches of snow in store for the higher elevations in northern Idaho and western Montana.
The pattern will also help to end concerns for wildfires over much of the Northwest.
However, fire weather will continue over California into next week.
Download the free AccuWeather app to see the latest forecast for your region. Keep checking back for updates on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo