Seattle weather: Atmospheric river to bring rain, snowpack woes to WA

Western Washington will see another round of heavy rain as an atmospheric river hits the region from late Saturday until Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

A few inches of snow are expected overnight in the Cascades, including around Stevens Pass, but that’s likely to melt by Sunday morning, said Jeff Michalski, a weather service meteorologist. Meanwhile, snow levels are expected to quickly climb as high as 8,000 feet Sunday and Monday.

The rain increases risk of flooding for the Skokomish and Bogachiel rivers and could potentially flood other rivers flowing from the northern and central Cascades.

The Seattle area is expected to see a half-inch to an inch of rain, Michalski said.

“It’s going to be mostly rain in the mountains,” he said. “It’s good for travelers moving across the Cascades, but not really good for snowpack.”

Meanwhile, breezy winds are expected along the coast through Sunday before easing on Monday.

It’s difficult to predict specific river impacts because it’s uncertain whether the already high snow levels will absorb rainfall or increase runoff, the weather service reported.

Drier skies are expected by the middle of next week, the weather service added. This’ll be the wettest period in a roughly two-week stretch, Michalski said, “but then we’re in for a dry break.”