Heavy Rain, Strong Winds To Sweep Into the Pacific Northwest This Weekend (FORECAST)

By Chrissy Warrilow
Published: October 25,2014


 
A heavy rain maker has set up in the Pacific Northwest, and it will continue to bring much needed rain and mountain snow through the weekend. With that said, it is also producing strong gusty winds that are downing numerous trees and powerlines.
(MORE: Pacific Northwest Storm Unleashes Powerful Damaging Winds)
The Setup
A large southward dip in the jet stream has developed over the eastern Pacific Ocean and is poised to swing into the West Coast this weekend.
Umbrella Weather Into The Weekend
The first round of rain came ashore Tuesday night through Thursday as a low pressure system and its trailing cold front barrel into the Pacific Coast from Washington to northwest California.
(MORE: Longview, Washington Tornado)
Less rain occurred on Friday, though a band of showers did develop from the coast of Washington through Seattle and into western Montana.
On Saturday, a second low pressure system ushered heavy rain into the Pacific Northwest. This second system brought rain as far south as San Francisco and Sacramento, as well as snow over the Cascades and northern Rockies.
(FORECAST: Seattle | Portland | Medford | Eureka | Redding | San Francisco | Sacramento)
A general 1 to 3 inches of rain is expected from Northern California through coastal Washington through Sunday, with up to 4 to 5 inches possible in a few spots. Thunderstorms may develop in northern California and western Oregon and a few thunderstorms may be severe, with an isolated tornado possible as well.
(MORE: 13 Years of California Drought in 30 Seconds)
Strong winds will also accompany this system and high wind warnings and wind advisories are in effect into early Sunday morning.
(CURRENT WIND ADVISORIES FOR: Washington | Oregon | California | Idaho | Nevada | Utah | Montana | Wyoming)
Gusty winds will bring the risk for power outages, tree damage and difficult driving conditions. Already, there have been numerous reports of downed trees and powerlines throughout the region.
In particular, a 91 mph wind gust was recorded in Mary's Peak, Oregon, near the coast. In Port Orford, Oregon, rescue workers extracted people from their recreational vehicles after trees and powerlines fell on the RVs, resulting in numerous fires throughout an RV park. One person was taken to the hospital due to injuries.
(MORE: Pacific Northwest Storm Unleashes Powerful Damaging Winds)
Too Much of a Good Thing?
Heavy rain over the next few days may not be a welcomed sight in Seattle, which has already received over 36 inches of rain this year, a surplus of more than 11.8 inches.
Going into the weekend, as much as 1.5 to 2.5 inches of rain are expected to fall within the inland valleys of southwest Washington and northwest Oregon, with heavier amounts in the coastal ranges.
Such heavy amounts of rain may produce flash flooding and debris flows or mudslides within burn scar areas from recent wildfires. In urban areas, fallen leaves in storm drains may impede the flow of rainwater runoff, leading to minor urban flooding.
Unfortunately, little significant rain will fall in the Golden State except for the far northwest. Generally around 0.25 inch or less is expected along the Interstate 80 corridor from the Bay Area to Sacramento. Generally less than 1 inch of rain is expected in the northern Sacramento Valley.
San Francisco's rainfall total for this year is over four inches below normal, and Sacramento is running about 4.25 inches below normal as well. Further north in California, Mount Shasta is running a deficit of more than 12 inches.
Another low pressure system is expected early next week and may contain the remnants of Hurricane Ana.