A significant weather system is moving into Western Washington, bringing the threat of heavy rain, strong winds, and rising river levels through the early part of the week.
Meteorologists are tracking an atmospheric river that is expected to drench the region. While the lowlands are anticipating several inches of rain, the Olympic and Cascade mountains could see even more significant totals. The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for several counties, warning that the heavy precipitation could lead to localized urban flooding and cause rivers to swell past their banks.
In addition to the rain, breezy conditions are expected along the coast and in the northern interior. While winds are not currently expected to reach damaging levels, the combination of saturated soil and gusts could increase the risk of downed tree limbs and isolated power outages.
The mountains will also see a shift in conditions. While recent weeks brought snow to higher elevations, rising temperatures associated with this system mean that much of the precipitation will fall as rain, further contributing to the runoff into regional river systems.
Commuters are being urged to exercise caution, as ponding on roadways and reduced visibility will likely impact travel. Forecasters expect the heaviest rainfall to taper off by mid-week, though scattered showers are likely to persist.
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