Parade of Storminess Continues in the Pacific Northwest
Jan 22, 2012; 10:45 AM ET
The Pacific Northwest has been bombarded with storms over the past couple of days, and the parade of storminess will continue through the end of this coming week.
An active storm track over the northern half of the United States has led to a steady stream of storm systems which have been walloping the Pacific Northwest.
The storms have been packing quite a punch with howling coastal winds, drenching rain and heavy higher-elevation snow.
Residents in these areas won't catch a break from the relentless force of these storms, because as soon as one storm exits, another system is moving in quick on its heels.
Over the past week, some places along the coastlines of Washington and Oregon have received over 8 inches of rain. Farther inland in the higher elevations, some locations in Idaho have had over 6 feet of snow.
The scary part is that more heavy rain and snow is on the way.
In addition to the tremendous amounts of precipitation, these storms also produce very strong winds, especially along coastal sections. Strong winds and heavy rain can cause significant beach erosion and coastal flooding.
Anyone who will be traveling through these areas over the next several days should use caution and allow for extra time to reach their final destinations.
Areas of rain are also making it farther south in central California, where some places haven't seen rain in months.
While most will be sick and tired of the persistent battering of rain, snow and wind, some will actually benefit from it. Ski resorts and winter sports lovers will certainly welcome any opportunity for fresh powder.
By Mark Miller, Meteorologist
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Daily U.S. Extremes
past 24 hours
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | 100° | Smyrna, TN |
| Low | 15° | Sunset Crater, AZ |
| Precip | 3.99" | Wadena, MN |
WeatherWhys®
Hail is much more common during the months of May and June compared to July and August. The main reason is the fact that the freezing level is usually higher during July and August as pockets of cold air in the upper atmosphere are less common as the jet stream weakens and retreats farther north.
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