Northwest braces for a fresh round of flooding rain, damaging winds from atmospheric river
The Northwest US is facing yet another storm early this week that will bring a swath of heavy rain, wind and mountain snow. Forecasters highlight the risk for river flooding, avalanches and mudslides will remain high.
A new round of heavy rain, gusty winds and high-elevation snow is striking the Pacific Northwest from Monday into Tuesday.
A tumultuous weather pattern will continue to focus across the Northwest U.S. early this week, AccuWeather experts warn. After one atmospheric river funneled moisture into Washington, Oregon to Idaho and western Montana as it advanced inland through the weekend, another storm pushing into the region at the start of the workweek is channeling another round of flooding rain, wind and high-elevation snowfall.
Another round of soaking rain
Communities along the Washington and Oregon coastline observed upwards of 2-4 inches of rain from Saturday into Sunday night as the first storm advanced into the region. Forecasters highlight that additional rain will continue as a secondary storm intensifies and pushes onto the coast into Tuesday.
Some locations along the Northwest coast are on track to observe more rain in a two-day period than they have observed so far this month.
"The Pacific Northwest is not getting a chance to breathe amid this active atmospheric river pattern. The advancing storm has strengthened rapidly offshore and is spreading yet more rain to the already soaked region," explained AccuWeather Meteorologist Jacob Hinson.
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"By the time the early week storm is done, total rainfall will rise to 3-8 inches from both storms in lower areas and greater than 16 inches in mountainous terrain. As a result, concerns for river flooding remain high, especially with the previous week’s snow melting and contributing to runoff," added Hinson.
Stormy pattern can spark avalanches
In addition to downpours impacting the coastal and foothill regions, forecasters also are highlighting a considerable danger for avalanches across the Washington Cascades. The rounds of heavy rain soaking sloped areas weakly packed with snowfall could rapidly create a risk for avalanches from the upper elevations to the valley floors, and hikers are discouraged from venturing out given the stormy circumstances. While the peak risk was primarily on Sunday, a high risk can linger into Tuesday in some locations.
Additional snowfall is expected as the next storm continues to advance into the region Tuesday, particularly across the Cascade Range.
"Sting jet" can produce fierce winds
As the storm intensifies and pummels into the Northwest Coast into Tuesday, AccuWeather meteorologists warn that an atmospheric phenomenon called a 'sting jet' can occur.
A meteorological term that has been growing in popularity in the United Kingdom since the early 2000s, a “sting jet” is a small area of intense winds that can develop underneath low pressure systems, causing extensive wind damage. The formation looks like a bee’s stinger or scorpion’s tail on weather satellites, while "jet" is short for jet stream, a corridor of high winds high in the atmosphere.
"As this low pressure system rapidly strengthens, it will bring very strong wind gusts that parallel the coasts. We’re expecting gusts of 60-80 mph along the coast, locations just inland and along the mountaintops. More sheltered cities like Seattle can observe gusts around 40-60 mph," noted Hinson.
The AccuWeather Local StormMax™ for peak wind gusts is 100 mph.
Hinson added that the highest gusts will likely be along the border between Washington and Oregon, where a possible sting jet could increase winds even further. Wind damage is likely during this event, with power outages and downed trees being the most common through Tuesday morning.
By Tuesday afternoon and evening, the storminess is expected to wane across the Northwest. Gusty winds will taper off and rain will cease across the region, leaving most locations dry through the remainder of the workweek.
Heat intensifies in the Southwest
Farther south, from Southern California into New Mexico, residents will be observing a much different weather pattern this week. Temperatures will be on the rise across the Four Corners and Desert Southwest, with some locations expected to crest the 90-degree mark for the first time this year.
Locations like Phoenix and downtown Los Angeles will be among some sites at risk for reaching 90 F, especially by midweek.
A few locations will even be in jeopardy of tying or surpassing their daily temperature records, particularly by Wednesday.
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