Rainy Week Ahead

We have a rainy few days on tap. We have fully transitioned out of the cold pattern, so it will now feel much more like a "normal winter" in the Seattle area. Rain through Friday are likely to total 2-3 inches. Let's take a look at what to expect the next few days...

Here's a graphic from NWS Seattle showing the expected rain for the next few days.

Tuesday will be showery, with up to 0.4 inches of rain possible, and winds gusting 25-40 mph. Expect gusty winds and heavy rains in storm cells.

Wednesday is the start of a rainier few days. As stated in the graphic above, warmer weather systems and heavier rain is likely. Expect around 0.5 inches of rain on Wednesday.

Thursday looks to be the rainiest day of the week, with 0.8-1.1 inches likely. There is also a chance of gusty winds on Thursday as well. Snow levels in the mountains will begin to rise up to 5,000-6,000 feet. This will make rivers rise, and flooding is to be expected. Check river levels on the NWS Flooding database.

Friday will also be rainy, with around 0.5 inches of rain possible. Rain will gradually taper through the day Saturday, with more rain possible through the next week. Flooding will start to decrease, but some rivers could remain high due to their location.

Rain totals by the end of this week will be between 2 and 3 inches.

The interior lowlands will receive 1.2-2.5 inches of rain through Saturday morning. The coast, Olympics, and Cascades will be socked with 2-10 inches of rain. That will make for some crazy flooding!

Prepare for flooding and heavy rains. Rising snow levels will melt a large amount of snow in the mountains (Olympics & Cascades).