Pacific Storm Train Fires Up with More Moisture on the Way This Week

The Pacific storm train is firing up, ushering in a more active weather pattern and cooler conditions for much of the western U.S. Read on for more details about what you can expect as this train of storms continues to push through the region.

Active Weather Pattern Firing Up for the Northwest

The storm train originating in the Pacific Ocean got going late Friday, spreading significant moisture across western Washington and Oregon to start the weekend. The weather maker is forecast to continue its track to the east, resulting in an expansion of the precipitation across the northern Rockies by the time the weekend comes to a close.

Several storms are expected to roll through the Pacific Northwest as the calendar flips from October to November. These storm cells will generate rain, high-elevation snow, and powerful winds for the region. This corner of the country should prepare for the storms to fire up every few days.

The most rain is forecast to unleash across the coastline of northwestern Oregon and up into Washington. You can expect 1 to 3 inches in this zone, enough to cause localized flooding for low-lying and poor drainage areas.

Major cities along the Interstate 5 corridor should expect a couple of inches of rain by the time that the system wraps up early in the week. Cities such as Portland, Olympia, and Seattle will all be under the gun for what is likely to be the most meaningful rain event of the season thus far.

Both Olympia and Seattle have only recorded about 35% of the usual rainfall amounts for October. This weather maker will work to boost these numbers as the month comes to a close. The moisture will arrive right on time as October is typically the month that kicks off the wet winter season for the Pacific Northwest.

For instance, after a brief drying out period on Tuesday, another round of rain will arrive in Seattle on Wednesday. This day is likely to be the soggiest of the week. It will be a cool stretch of days with highs hovering in the low 50s in the Emerald City. Overnight lows will bounce around in the mid 40s throughout the week.

Winds will also increase as the system pushes farther inland. The coastal areas will clock in with winds gusting at speeds between 30 and 50 mph.

Cooler Air Will Drop Snow Levels

A mass of cooler air will come in behind the storm, causing the snow levels to fall late Sunday and into Monday. Accumulating snow is in the forecast for the Cascades and the northern Rockies at this time.

Motorists using Snoqualmie Pass along Interstate 90 will want to be aware of the potential of slippery roads as the mercury dips to the freezing level late Sunday night. The secondary roads in the region will also experience slippery conditions.

Tuesday will be the best day of the week to use this pass with mostly dry conditions expected. Another influx of moisture Wednesday will pair with the cold temperatures to create the chance of light snow. Snowfall of about an inch will fall at times through the balance of the week as the different rounds of precipitation move over the Cascades.

This surge of cold air will track across the interior portions of the West on Monday and Tuesday. The falling temperatures will translate to snow for the top elevations across Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado to start the new work week. While this may cause problems for motorists in the high country, the flakes will be welcome news for ski resorts hoping to build their snowpack heading into November.

Relief from Heat in the Desert Southwest

The Desert Southwest will also be happy to see the arrival of cooler air. Temperatures have been hovering at about 8 degrees over the historical average for the last few weeks in Phoenix.

The Valley of the Sun is expecting temperatures to top out in the 70s on Tuesday and Wednesday. The metro area may crack the 80-degree barrier again on Thursday, however, the mercury will remain in the low 80s through Saturday before dipping back into the low 70s once more on Sunday. Skies will be mostly sunny during this time period.

Las Vegas will see even cooler afternoon highs, maxing out in the upper 60s on Tuesday and Wednesday. After flirting with the low 70s on Thursday and Friday, Sin City will see readings slip back into the 60s for highs over the weekend. Like Phoenix, you can count on plentiful amounts of sunshine.

Yet another storm system is on deck for the Northwest by the middle of the week. This storm could derail plans for trick-or-treating on Halloween. More snow is also possible for the Cascades and the northern Rockies by the end of the week.

The long-range forecast is predicting that the storm track across the Northwest will remain active through the first weekend of November. Stay tuned in the following days as the forecast becomes more detailed and precise. The bottom line is that the stormy season has arrived for the Northwest.

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