Snow and Rain are to Fall in the Northwest this Week due to a Regional Atmospheric River
Winter storm and flood warnings were issued for parts of the Pacific Northwest, northern California, and the Rockies this week prompted by back-to-back storms.
Storms pushing off the Pacific are caused by an atmospheric river, a corridor of moist air formed when warmer air moves northward from the tropics.
National Weather Service forecasts heavy coastal rain and snow across the Pacific Northwest and northern California as the first of the two storms pushes inland on Monday. Snow is expected to fall from the northern Rockies to the Great Basin on Tuesday evening and Wednesday.
Snow and Rain are to Fall in the Northwest
Storms are expected to move into the Pacific Northwest Tuesday night, unleashing showers and thunderstorms alongside the coast and parts of the Coast Ranges. During the storm’s eastward journey, the Cascades could see more snowfall.
Meteorologist Elizabeth Danco of AccuWeather predicts three to four inches of rain to fall in the Olympics and 1-2 inches in Seattle and Portland. Rainy weather is forecasted for the next few days in Seattle, causing river flooding.
Due to the little break between systems, several rivers may reach the Action Stage with minor flooding possible by Wednesday and Thursday, according to the outlook. During the next week, the extent of flooding depends on rainfall rates, temperatures, snow levels, and total rainfall.
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Several Western states had winter storm warnings issued early Monday morning. Forecasters predicted snow accumulations of 8-16 inches and wind gusts of up to 50 mph in central Oregon.
In a winter weather advisory that could last until Tuesday, the weather service in Medford, Oregon, warned that travel could be very challenging.
Dangerous driving conditions could delay morning and evening commutes, while gusty winds could bring down trees. Several states, including Washington, northern California, Utah, and Nevada, issued similar warnings.
Strong storms in the western hemisphere are often attributed to atmospheric rivers in the northern hemisphere. NASA describes them as the world’s largest means of transporting fresh water.
Several states are bracing for storms following a record-breaking snowfall in Las Vegas and elsewhere
A winter storm the week prior had wreaked havoc on some areas of the northern West Coast with a record-breaking amount of snowfall.
A record-breaking amount of snow fell between Tuesday and Saturday in Lincoln and Elbert counties, with the respective areas receiving 35.5 and 41.5 inches of snow.
It snowed 40 inches of snow in Colfax County between Wednesday and Friday, while another 7.5 inches fell in Albuquerque. Several agencies responded to the winter storm under the state of emergency declared by New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
The snowfall broke a decades-old record and prompted the closure of roads and power outages in Las Vegas last week. Strong wind gusts are expected in Las Vegas on Monday, causing “tree and power line damage” and dangerous travel conditions.
Wildfires are Raging in Eastern states, Bringing Rain
Forecasters predict showers and thunderstorms from New England to the Gulf Coast this week, but not enough to stop the Mid-Atlantic wildfire threat.
The Carolinas and the central Gulf Coast are expected to experience heavy rains on Monday. New England and Upstate New York were likely to see rain from a secondary front.
Storms followed showers that drenched New York City with 0.17 inches of rain Monday morning, the most since late September. As a result of wildfires over the weekend, Chicago experienced hazy skies and air quality alerts.
We’re experiencing a historic drought in the Mid-Atlantic. Delaware and New Jersey experienced their driest October on record. Trenton, New Jersey, recently broke the 1903 record for consecutive days without rain.
AccuWeather senior meteorologist Brett Anderson said that “while this type of rain isn’t enough to help with drought conditions, it will hydrate soil and brush, reducing dust buildup and wildfire spread and start after Monday’s front.”
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