Is Western Washington bracing for a deluge? Stay tuned as we uncover the potential threat of an Atmospheric River causing heavy rainfall in June. Find out if this weather phenomenon is set to unleash a major downpour on the region. Keep your umbrellas handy and your eyes on the skies as we dive into the forecast for Western Washington!
Unexpected Weather Phenomenon in June
An atmospheric river is forecast to bring substantial rain to Western Washington during the first week of June 2024. This event is highly unusual because atmospheric rivers typically do not occur in late spring, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Meteorologist Trent Davis highlighted the peculiarity of this situation: “Usually, we don’t see these going into the end of May and the beginning of June,” he said.
What is an Atmospheric River?
An atmospheric river is a weather phenomenon where moisture from tropical regions, particularly the Pacific Ocean, is transported into the atmosphere and directed towards the Northwest. This results in heavy rainfall over a short period. While Washington state is familiar with such events, experiencing one in June is rare.
Anticipated Rainfall and Affected Areas
“Everyone’s gonna see a good dosing of rain across Western Washington,” Davis stated. The region is expected to experience heavy rainfall from Sunday evening through Tuesday afternoon, with most of the precipitation occurring Sunday night into Monday morning.
- Seattle-metro area could see up to 1.5 inches of rain.
- King, Snohomish, and Skagit counties may receive between 2-4 inches of rainfall.
- Olympic and Cascade mountains are expected to get the highest amounts of rainfall, leading to heavy runoff in rivers.
Although major river flooding is not anticipated, rivers such as the Snohomish and Skykomish will be flowing quite full. The Snoqualmie River at Carnation could even reach a minor flood stage.
Impact on Outdoor Activities
If you had plans to enjoy outdoor activities over the weekend, preparation is crucial. “Unfortunately, it seems like we’re having an active weather weekend. So if you are planning to be out and about or maybe doing any camping … plan to have ways to get weather information, should we have any flood warnings that go up,” Davis advised. Ensure you can receive alerts and follow any road closures to stay safe.
Could This Rain Help Washington’s Drought?
While the impending rain won’t solve Washington’s current drought completely, it will provide some relief. Declared in April 2024, the drought was attributed to insufficient winter snow in the mountains, which usually supplies summer water needs. Davis noted, “It’s a nuisance right now, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s beneficial, both for water levels and just helping to mitigate fire, and bring our drought situation into better terms.”
Long-Term Benefits and Future Weather
This surge of moisture could also impact the upcoming fire season. Last year, the region began drying out significantly in June, elevating fire risks. “We probably need a couple of them, but it’s definitely welcome news … getting any added moisture, especially when it’s not as common here, is going to help make a dent in things. It’s also good for fire season because last year we started drying out a lot in June. So this is going to help, hopefully, slow down that threat for fires,” said Davis.
As the week progresses, the rain is expected to taper off by Wednesday or Thursday, giving way to sunnier and warmer conditions by the weekend. Long-range forecasts suggest a shift to a drier pattern with above-normal temperatures, indicating some balance in the weather conditions.
Source: www.kuow.org