Pacific Northwest Prepares for Arrival of Next Storm on Thursday

Posted: November 9, 2023 9:09 am

A shot of typical blustery November weather arrived right on schedule in the Pacific Northwest with the first of a series of storms impacting the region on the first day of the month. Since then, the region has seen persistent rounds of moisture paired with gusty winds. Yet another major storm is on the horizon by the end of the week. Here is what you need to know about the timing and the potential impacts of this upcoming weather maker.

Month of November Off to a Soggy Start for the Pacific Northwest

The Pacific Northwest has been dealing with an extremely active weather pattern over the last several days. Major cities such as Seattle and Portland have picked up more rain in the last week than they saw over the entire month of October. For instance, Seattle has recorded over 4 inches of rainfall since November 1 while Portland just barely missed the 4-inch mark. More rain falling across both cities late Tuesday will only add to these totals.

It has been a drier than normal summer for much of western Washington and Oregon. However, this recent bout of moisture is likely to keep the region on track for the historical average amount of precipitation as the year comes to a close.

Conditions have been even drier to the south. For example, Medford, Oregon only recorded 0.72 of an inch of rain between June 1 and September 1. This equates to about 57% of the normal amount during that time period. It has been a similar situation in the Northern California cities of Redding, San Jose, and San Francisco.

Brief Break from Rain Over the Middle of the Week

An area of high pressure will move across the Northwest by Wednesday, helping to deliver a brief break from the moisture in this corner of the country. Residents will want to get outside while they still can because another cold front is set to unleash more rain and colder temperatures by Thursday.

This front is forecast to inch closer to the coastline of Washington and Oregon late Wednesday and into early Thursday. This arrival will create higher offshore winds hitting as high as 40 mph. Ocean swells will also create danger for boaters using smaller vessels.

The rain is predicted to fall in the coastal areas of British Columbia, Canada and down through Washington, Oregon, and Northern California throughout the day Thursday. Areas that have already picked up substantial rain will be more at risk of experiencing flooding with the latest system.

How much rain can you expect this time around? Totals are forecast to land between 0.25 – 0.75 of an inch across the lower elevations of the Cascades and Coastal Range. Higher amounts of up to 1.25 inches are a possibility along the western-facing slopes of the Olympics.

The infusion of cold air with this front will also support the development of light snow for the higher elevations of the Cascades, the Olympics, and the northern Rocky Mountains in Idaho. Snow levels in the Cascade Mountains could fall to about 3,000 feet, presenting the risk of slushy conditions over some of the most traveled mountain passes. Meanwhile, the top terrains in the Northern Cascades may pick up 3 – 6 inches of snow out of this early season wintry storm.

Another Major Storm in the Cards for Next Week

Looking ahead to next week, the period of unsettled weather is forecast to continue as the jet stream makes another drop to the south. This movement will bring the possibility of heavy rain and mountain snow to areas farther south than what the previous systems delivered. For instance, Utah, Nevada, and areas well into central California could see the precipitation associated with his storm.

It is still too early to determine how much moisture this storm will bring. However, forecasters are warning that this system could usher in gusty winds and significant amounts of snow for the mountains. In addition, the central and northern coastal areas of California will likely see heavy wind and strong winds.

Southern California may also get in on the action next week with periods of rain and wind in the extended forecast. The Sierra Nevada will see snowfall in excess of a foot in some areas.

The silver lining of this messy weather pattern is that the rain and snow will likely end the fire season throughout much of the Golden State. Be sure to stay tuned to this developing forecast if you live on the West Coast.

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