Pacific Northwest Forecast to Get Hit With First Moisture in Days

The Pacific Northwest has seen an exceptionally long stretch of dry days, particularly by January standards. This is typically the time of the year when the region experiences its wet season but that has not been the case in recent weeks. However, forecasters predict that rain and snow will return to the region to break the dry spell. Here is when you can expect this moisture to arrive and to what degree.

Moisture Finally on the Way for the Pacific Northwest

There will be several opportunities for rain and snow to fall across the Pacific Northwest heading into the weekend and the early part of next week. The moisture machine has been atypically quiet in this corner of the country. It has been over two weeks since cities such as Seattle and Portland have seen any significant precipitation.

For instance, Seattle has seen just 20% of its historical average of rain thus far in January. The norm for the month in the Emerald City is 5.78 inches of rain. It has been a bit wetter in Portland with the city recording slightly over 2 inches of rain so far this month, compared to the historical average of 5 inches.

Just as Southern California received its first measurable rainfall of the winter recently, the Northwest is also forecast to see a big change in the weather pattern soon. The latest forecast models indicate that a shift in the winds coming from the Pacific Ocean will send a front and its associated moisture across the Northwest starting late Thursday.

Freezing levels will fluctuate as the cold air moves into the region. Snow levels will begin to fall on Friday across the higher terrains, resulting in the chance of dicey road conditions on some of the area passes.

Snoqualmie Pass on Interstate 90 in Washington is forecast to see the flakes begin to fly overnight Thursday with 5 to 8 inches expected. Another 3 to 5 inches is in store on Friday during the day with an additional 3 to 5 inches in the forecast overnight. The weekend will bring even more snow to the heavily traveled pass, likely snarling travel for thousands of motorists trying to cross the Cascades. After seeing a high of about 35 degrees on Friday, the pass and surrounding area will hover in the upper 20s over the weekend with lows dipping down to about the 20-degree mark.

Temperatures that hit the 50-degree mark in Seattle on Friday will keep the moisture falling as straight rain. The Emerald City is forecast to see about a quarter of an inch of rain to bring the work week to a close. Winds will be out of the south at 10 to 20 mph while overnight lows will bottom out in the upper 30s.

Portland will see the temperatures reach the low 50s on Friday afternoon despite the cloud cover and plentiful precipitation. The Rose City is bracing for about a quarter of an inch of rain during the day and another quarter of an inch overnight. Meteorologists are warning that the metro area could see times of torrential rainfall.

Weekend Forecast for the Northwest

Temperatures will likely be chilly enough to support the development of snow near sea level on Saturday morning in the Northwest. However, most of the moisture will have already been squeezed out by this time, resulting in just a few wet snow showers for places such as Seattle and Portland. The Interstate 5 corridor connecting these two metro areas may see just a slushy accumulation or it may dodge the moisture completely.

The weekend forecast is calling for drier conditions immediately to the east of the Cascades. Rain and wet snow will continue to threaten eastern Washington and Oregon late Saturday and into Sunday.

There are no major storms on the horizon for the Northwest, That said, meteorologists are expecting a weaker weather event to push into the region later in the weekend and into early next week. Moving at a slow pace, this storm will bring rain and snow back into the picture.

Snow levels will once again threaten the coastal Northwest, including Seattle, on Sunday through Tuesday. Warmer temperatures to the south in Portland will reduce the chance of snow in this part of the region. However, a few flurries may sneak into the rain mix at times given the right conditions.

This same system churning off of the Pacific coast will also send moisture into southern Oregon and Northern California. This part of the West Coast will bear the brunt of this development with the chance of heavy rain that could trigger flooding. For instance, places such as Medford, Oregon will be in the bullseye of the heavy rain as the weekend comes to a close. Stay tuned for more information as this system develops.

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