Pacific Northwest, Northern California to bear brunt of West Coast storms this week

The bulk of the storms rolling through the western United States this week will skirt to the north of mudslide-ravaged Southern California, taking aim from Washington to Northern California.

A storm sweeping ashore will mark the end of recent mild conditions and the beginning of a wet pattern.

“An extended period of unsettled and cooler weather will take hold across the western United States," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Samuhel.

After setting a daily record high temperature of 58 degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday, Seattle will experience more seasonable conditions in the 40s F by the middle of the week. A similar temperature drop is anticipated in Portland, Oregon.

High temperatures in the 50s in Redding, California, this week will be a far cry from the middle 70s that were felt at the start of this past weekend.

Nuisance rain is predicted to fall over the Interstate-5 corridor from Seattle to Sacramento, California, during Monday night and Tuesday with only minor delays anticipated on the roadways.

For travelers over Snoqualmie Pass, snow levels are expected to remain above pass level for the duration of the event.

Since little precipitation will reach south of Sacramento, outside of the Sierra Nevada, the storm will struggle to scour out the persistent fog and clouds plaguing the southern half of California's Central Valley.

“This will be the first in a series of storms that will impact the West Coast, including California, over the following 10 days or longer,” Samuhel said.

A second, more potent storm will swing through late Wednesday through Thursday, dropping more rain and snow than its early week predecessor from Washington to Northern California.

Snoqualmie and Stevens passes could turn slippery from several inches of snow at midweek.

A larger portion of California will likely be affected by the storm as well.

“Rainfall may reach parts of Southern California late this week,” AccuWeather Long-Range Meteorologist Max Vido said.

While the wet weather will likely be spotty and not nearly as intense as what caused the devastating mudslides last week, any rainfall could slow the recovery process.

A healthy dose of fresh powder is likely for the depleted snowpack in the Sierra Nevada.

A recent report from the California Department of Water Resources showed that the Sierra snowpack is less than 30 percent of normal for this point in the season across the entire mountain range.

The swath of snow will sweep eastward and blanket the interior West by this weekend.

A third storm is anticipated to arrive on the West Coast by the fourth week of January.

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