A significant weather event is on the horizon for the Pacific Northwest, as meteorologists anticipate an atmospheric river bringing substantial rainfall to the region. This storm system is stretching all the way from Hawaii to the Oregon coastline.
Expect heavy precipitation and mild temperatures in Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington starting Friday evening, peaking on Saturday night and continuing into Sunday.
Meteorologist Josh Cozart explained to KOIN 6, “The atmospheric river features mild temperatures and intense rainfall, aided by the moisture flow from Hawaii straight to Oregon this weekend.”
Ted S. Warren/AP Photo
The weather sprint starts Friday morning with strong easterly winds across western Oregon and southwest Washington, where gusts may reach 30-35 mph. These winds will likely warm Portland’s temperatures into the mid-60s under partly cloudy skies.
As Friday unfolds, wind speeds are expected to decrease while rain chances rise after sunset, with showers expected to ramp up during the late evening. Forecasts predict a long stretch of wet weather that could last until the middle of next week.
Whether this will develop into a full atmospheric river or just a hefty storm is still uncertain. However, significant rainfall is on the way, with expectations of around an inch falling in the Portland area over 24 hours from Saturday night into Sunday, followed by scattered showers thereafter.
Some areas might even see rainfall totals nearing two inches, with temperatures anticipated to drop into the 50s next week.
If you have Halloween plans, you might want to keep an eye on the forecast. While it seems Halloween (October 31) could be drier than the preceding days, there’s a chance of scattered showers affecting trick-or-treating.
As for hazards, be on the lookout for potential water pooling on roads, though widespread flooding isn’t expected as river levels remain relatively low, as noted by Burling.