Storms, chilly air to sweep across northwestern US through late week

While much of the western United States remains sunny and dry this week, the Northwest will brace for another bought of dreary, wintry weather.

The northwestern United States has not had to deal with the same arid heat and wildfire threat as their neighbors to the south these past couple of weeks.

“The pleasant conditions typical of early October that have graced the Pacific Northwest during the past week will be chased away,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Kyle Elliott.

“Residents venturing outdoors or going to and from work should be sure to grab the umbrella and rain gear before heading out the door each day through Friday.”

The first in a duo of storms swept through on Wednesday night, bringing a fresh chill to the region.

“Temperatures will be slashed by 5-15 degrees Fahrenheit in comparison to high temperatures this past weekend,” Elliott said.

Coastal areas can expect increasing cloudiness and showers to cause temperatures to struggle into the upper 50s, while more inland locations will enjoy another day of relative warmth with some sunshine.

“The unseasonable chill will invade the central and northern Rockies with highs in Great Falls, Montana, struggling to reach the upper 40s,” said Elliott.

A secondary burst of chill and moisture later this week will pack more of a punch, knocking temperatures down another notch and bringing more widespread wet weather.

“In the highest elevations of the Cascades and Bitterroots, as much as 6-12 inches of snow may fall by the time the chilly air departs by the upcoming weekend,” Elliott said.

Precipitation from the early week system will be reaching the Interior Northwest on Thursday, just as another disturbance moves onshore.

Residents of the coastal Pacific Northwest can anticipate rounds of heavy rain to move onshore on Thursday.

Starting this weekend and continuing into next week, a series of potent storms will ram ashore from the Pacific Ocean.

"The heaviest rain, mountain snow and wind from the storms will target British Columbia," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.

"However, the storms will still have some impact in Washington, Oregon and Idaho."

It is possible that some rain reaches part of wildfire-ravaged Northern California later next week from one or more of the storms.

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