SEATTLE — An atmospheric river is bringing strong to damaging winds, heavy rain and below-normal temperatures to the Puget Sound region Thursday night into Saturday morning, the National Weather Service said.
Snow is expected on the passes, as well as potential river flooding, according to The Seattle Times.
Jeff Michalski, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Seattle, said heavy precipitation is expected across the region, including western Oregon, through Saturday evening, with the heaviest precipitation over the Olympic and Cascade mountains.
According to the weather service, tree damage and some power outages are possible. Parts of west-central Washington, including the Seattle area, are under a flood watch through Saturday afternoon.
The National Weather Service in Portland is warning that boating conditions will be hazardous starting Thursday evening with high seas and high winds.
“Attention boaters and mariners: We are expecting high seas and strong winds in the coastal waters of southwest and northwest Oregon for the next few days starting tonight,” the weather service tweeted. “It’s a good time to stay grounded.”
Atmospheric river storms are fueled by long and wide columns of moisture coming from the Pacific Ocean.
The weather agency said a cooler air mass of 30 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit is expected from Sunday, continuing into next week with temperatures in the low 20s and a slight chance of snow.
“Of course, the air mass is cool enough to withstand any snowfall,” Michalski said.
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