Pacific Northwest in Grips of Another Weekend Storm System

Posted: December 10, 2023 9:20 am

The Pacific Northwest has been in the crosshairs of a number of storms that continue to push through the region with yet another weather maker taking aim this weekend. When will this moisture finally let up and how much more rain and snow can you expect until then? Read on for all of the details.

Another Weekend, Another Storm System for the Pacific Northwest

While there is drier weather on the horizon for the Pacific Northwest, the soggy weather pattern will remain in place through the weekend. A new storm system is making its way through Washington and Oregon this weekend, bringing additional rainfall to an area that has already exceeded its typical moisture amounts for all of December.

The immense moisture has triggered a number of flood watches through late Sunday in northeastern Oregon and up the coast of Washington. The excess moisture is expected to overwhelm rivers, streams, and creeks in the area, creating the risk of flooding.

The greatest amount of rain is expected to fall along the upslopes of the Coastal Range with 3 to 6 inches through Sunday night in the forecast. This is a region that has already been inundated with massive amounts of moisture this week, making the grounds more likely to not be able to absorb the rain of this weekend. The coastal areas will also see the increased risk of flooding due to the expectation of high tide levels that will hit 1 – 2 feet higher than at the start of the week.

It has been a soggy start to December for the Northwest. For instance, Seattle has already exceeded its normal monthly rainfall amount of 5.72 inches thanks to the influx of storms. It is a similar situation in Portland with rainfall levels already over the December historical average of 5.77 inches. Both cities are on track to pick up another 0.75 of an inch to 1.50 inches of new moisture this weekend.

This will be the second December in a row that both Seattle and Portland have recorded higher than normal rainfall totals. The metro areas finished out December of 2022 with between 130 – 150% of the normal December rainfall amounts, a trend that is likely to continue this month.

Other Impacts of This Storm System

Rain will not be the only impact of this major storm system. High winds will also be an issue for the coastal areas. Winds are forecast to gust up to 25 – 35 mph along the coastal areas. Gusts of up to 45 mph are on tap for the waters just off the coast, posing potential hazards to boaters.

While colder air on Saturday brought significant amounts of snow to the Cascades, the northern Rocky Mountains, and the Coastal Range, warmer temperatures moving in on Sunday will bring the snow levels up higher. Until then, travelers can expect hazardous travel conditions across the most traveled mountain passes.

Warmer Temperatures and Drying Out on the Horizon for the Northwest

Warmer weather will begin to make an appearance on Sunday with the mercury climbing about 10 degrees when compared to the day before in many areas. Seattle and Portland will see the temperatures likely crack the 50-degree mark on Sunday and Monday.

This warmup will translate to snow changing over to rain for all but the extreme high terrains of this region. Dry weather will also be a hallmark of the early part of the work week for the bulk of the region. Most areas can count on mostly dry conditions beginning on Monday and lasting through Wednesday.

A zone of high pressure anchored in the upper levels of the atmosphere will get the credit for the day and calm conditions. This will be a good time to perform any outdoor chores that you have been putting off because of the persistent moisture. Another shot of precipitation is expected by late Wednesday, bringing rain and the chance of snow back into the picture.

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