WeatherFanatics: Northwest Storm to Unleash Heavy Rain, Fierce Wind

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Northwest Storm to Unleash Heavy Rain, Fierce Wind

By Brian Lada, Meteorologist

December 18,2014; 6:22PM,EST

A train of storms will continue to deliver rain to the Pacific Northwest with one particular storm this weekend likely to be the strongest of the bunch.
After a break of mainly dry weather for much of the region on Thursday, unsettled conditions will return and continue through the weekend.
Holiday shoppers trying to avoid the rain may want to head out to the stores on Thursday, although spotty showers may still dampen the region.
The first wave of steady rain is forecast to move through on Friday, making for a wet day along Interstate 5 with heavy snow falling over the Cascade Mountains.
According to AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski, "Snow will reach down to pass level along I-90 with enough possible to make for slippery travel."

The more potent rainstorm is expected to move into the region on Saturday and continue into Sunday with the worst conditions forecast to hit west of the Cascades.
Seattle, Olympia and Bellingham, Washington, and Portland, Salem, Eugene and Medford, Oregon, can all receive 1 to 3 inches of rain from this storm with some areas picking up as much as 4 inches by Sunday night.
Motorists should use caution while driving in this rain as it can lead to poor visibility and even flooded roadways.
If you come across a flooded road, you should find an alternate route to your destination.

"Since snow levels will rise during the storm this weekend, the combination of melting snow and heavy rain can lead to flash and small stream flooding," Sosnowski said.
Gusty winds will accompany the heavy rain, raising the potential for flight delays and localized power outages.
According to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Houk, "Gusts will reach as high as 60 mph along the Washington and Oregon coasts on Saturday. Gusts to 40 mph will be common along I-5 from Seattle to Medford, Oregon."
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Dry weather is expected to make a brief return to kick off the upcoming week as an area of high pressure moves over the area.
These dry conditions will be short-lived, however, as yet another storm looks to bring more rain to the region for Tuesday.
Snow to Blanket Intermountain West Christmas Eve, Christmas Day
As the coastal storm from Tuesday pushes inland, some areas may be hit by heavy snow on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day over the Snake River Basin, the upper part of the Great Basin and parts of the central and northern Rockies.
"Highways most likely to be affected by snow and slippery travel include portions of I-15, I-25 and I-84," Sosnowski said.

"However, it is too early to tell if the axis of heavy snow runs along or north of I-80 through the Rockies and Great Basin," Sosnowski added.
More details will follow on AccuWeather.com for this potentially disruptive storm for travel concerns in the West.
The storm is likely to bring a heavy dose of snow to part of ski country for Christmas from Idaho to parts of the central and northern Rockies.

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