Storm to whisk away record warmth in western US through the weekend
Following a stretch of record warmth, clouds and showers will cool a large portion of the western United States through Sunday.
Seattle and Portland, Oregon, are among the many cities that have broken or tied record highs amid a surge of warmth this past week.
However, the warm spell has since come to an abrupt end.
A pocket of cold air in the upper atmosphere has moved into the Northwest from the Pacific Ocean and will linger for several days, according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Ryan Adamson.
“This will cause an increase in clouds with the threat for some showers, as well as falling temperatures,” he added.
Temperatures will be knocked back by up to 30 degrees Fahrenheit from their peak this week. In many locations, conditions will be a few degrees below normal for the end of April.
Motorists should anticipate slower travel on the roadways across the Northwest during the damper pattern this weekend, and airline passengers in Seattle and Portland may face delays.
People should be cautious of camping and hiking across the back country through Sunday, as some of the rain showers could produce lightning and gusty winds.
“In addition, small hail is possible, especially in any heavier showers,” Adamson said.
To the relief of anyone traveling over the major passes, snow levels will remain confined to the highest peaks of the Washington and Oregon Cascades over the weekend.
“Unfortunately, while temperatures will also become lower than recent days in the Southwest, any precipitation will stay to the north of the region,” Adamson said. “Much of the area is in an extreme to exceptional drought, and precipitation is badly needed.”
A few showers will reach far Northern California, Nevada and Utah through Sunday, but much of this activity will be sparse.
“Since much of the winter was dry, mountain snow has already completely melted in some areas, which is crucial for the water supply heading into the summer months,” Adamson said.
There may be an opportunity for rain to sink farther south across the West this week.
A new storm from the Pacific will generate a mosaic of afternoon showers and thunderstorms across the Southwest around midweek.
While rainfall with this setup will be isolated, outdoor enthusiasts should keep an eye out for rapidly changing weather conditions.
The damper pattern will put a temporary lid on the high fire threat in the Southwest.
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