Heavy Rain, Strong Winds Again for the Pacific Northwest Early This Week 

A heavy rain maker has set up in the Pacific Northwest, and it will continue to bring much needed rain and mountain snow through the first half of the week. With that said, it is also producing strong gusty wind that is downing numerous trees and powerlines.

The Setup

Tuesday Wind Gust Forecast

A large southward dip in the jet stream has developed over the eastern Pacific Ocean, allowing round after round of low pressure systems to enter the Northwest.

The first round of rain came ashore last week as a low pressure system and its trailing cold front barrel into the Pacific Coast from Washington to northwest California. The storms produced enough instability and wind shear to produce a tornado in Washington state on Thursday.

Over the weekend, a second low pressure system ushered heavy rain into the Pacific Northwest. This second system brought rain as far south as San Francisco and Sacramento, as well as snow over the Cascades and northern Rockies. It also produced wind gusts as high as 91 mph in Oregon, and strong sustained winds knocked numerous trees and powerlines to the ground, leaving thousands in the dark throughout the region.

This next round moving into the Northwest this week will feature the remnants of former Hurricane Ana, which have been absorbed by a low pressure system that will impact the Northwest Monday night through Wednesday.

Umbrella Weather Continues

Monday's Forecast

A general 1 to 3 inches of rain is expected from Northern California through coastal Washington through Tuesday, with locally higher amounts along the coast.

Strong winds will also accompany this system, especially Monday afternoon through Tuesday evening. Sustained winds of 20 to 25 mph are expected along the Oregon coast from Astoria to North Bend, though winds may gust as high as 50 to 60 mph during the event.

Winds of these speeds will bring the risk for power outages, tree damage and difficult driving conditions. Already, there have been numerous reports of downed trees and powerlines throughout the region.

In particular, a 91 mph wind gust was recorded over the weekend in Mary's Peak, Oregon, near the coast. In Port Orford, Oregon, rescue workers extracted people from their recreational vehicles after trees and powerlines fell on the RVs, resulting in numerous fires throughout an RV park. One person was taken to the hospital due to injuries.

Too Much of a Good Thing?

Northwest Forecast Rainfall Totals

Heavy rain over the next few days may not be a welcomed sight in Seattle, which has already received over 36 inches of rain this year, a surplus of more than 11.8 inches.

Through the weekend, as much as 1.5 to 2.5 inches of rain are expected to fall within the inland valleys of southwest Washington and northwest Oregon, with heavier amounts in the coastal ranges.

Such heavy amounts of rain may produce flash flooding and debris flows or mudslides within burn scar areas from recent wildfires. In urban areas, fallen leaves in storm drains may impede the flow of rainwater runoff, leading to minor urban flooding.

 

http://www.weather.com/forecast/news/heavy-rain-pacific-northwest-washington-oregon-northern-california-20141022