Storm to slam western US with heavy rain, snow through late week

The recent dry spell in the western United States has come to a close as wind, heavy snow and drenching rain have begun over the region.

“Another strong West Coast storm system will deliver rounds of coastal flooding for northern California, along with heavy snow for the Sierra Nevada and the Cascades of Oregon and Washington into the end of the week,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Kevin Gilmore.

Farther inland, snow and slippery travel will extend from south-central and southeastern Oregon to southern Idaho and central and northern Wyoming through Thursday night.

Strong winds will also be a factor in part of this region as strong northwesterly wind flows downhill from the Rockies and through southern Wyoming. Winds will also pick up noticeably throughout Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

While snow continues over the interior West, the threat for heavy rain will ramp up in areas just north of the San Francisco Bay Area during the middle and latter parts of the week.

As the Pacific storm responsible for this onslaught of moisture approaches the coast, rain and wind will pummel the California shore beginning Wednesday afternoon.

“Torrential rainfall will once again bring the potential for flash flooding along the California and southern Oregon coasts into the upcoming weekend,” Gilmore said.

Localized flooding is anticipated to be most disruptive from Eureka to San Francisco, California, as well as at the foot of the higher terrain to the north and east of the San Joaquin Valley.

As with other storms over the previous weeks, road closures and power outages will be possible as the threat of flash flooding, landslides and toppled trees returns.

Areas as far south as Fresno, California, can expect waves of drenching rain from Thursday to Friday.

A few showers could even dampen downtown Los Angeles from late Thursday night to Friday night.

Farther north in and around the cities of Eugene and Portland, Oregon, near-freezing temperatures will combine with any rain to create slick roads for a time during the latter days of this week.

“Periods of freezing rain will cause treacherous travel conditions along the Columbia River Gorge beginning on Thursday, and could last into the upcoming weekend,” said Gilmore.

Thursday will also host the beginning of winter weather in California.

“Another round of fresh snowfall is in store for the Sierra Nevada beginning during the middle of the week and lasting through the weekend,” Gilmore said.

Up to 3 feet of high-elevation snow could accumulate, adding to the yards of snow pack already in place.

This same blustery and wet weather will persist on Friday from Los Angeles to Seattle and Billings to Salt Lake City.

“Extreme snowfall totals of 1 to 2 feet will fall for higher elevations of western Montana, Idaho and northwestern Wyoming by the upcoming weekend,” said Gilmore.

By Saturday, the precipitation is expected to lift out of central and Southern California.

Snow is expected to pile up over the interior Northwest through the weekend while waves of rain continue to batter the Washington, Oregon and northern California coasts.

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