Fall and early winter have seen frequent rounds of rain and mountain snow in the Western region. While this has been beneficial in relieving drought conditions and boosting the snowpack, the ground is becoming saturated. AccuWeather meteorologists caution that continued precipitation will heighten the risk of flooding and mudslides.
As Christmas approaches, a surge in travel via plane, train, and automobile is expected. The ongoing rain and snow are likely to result in slower driving speeds and potential delays in airport travel. Travel conditions may start to deteriorate as early as Monday in cities like Seattle and Portland.
“Heavy rain is anticipated Monday night into Tuesday morning across Northern California and southwestern Oregon, with snow levels dropping to allow rain to turn into snow at numerous passes,” explained Senior Meteorologist Heather Zehr. “While the snowfall amounts won’t be excessive, roads could become slippery quickly and snowfall may be intense at times.”
AccuWeather experts point out that snow levels could fluctuate during the storms, leading to additional hazards beyond snow-covered roads. “Changing snow levels in the high country will escalate the avalanche risk with each storm as the snow cover becomes increasingly unstable,” warned Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
On Christmas Day, most areas in the West will experience a break from precipitation, except for some snow showers in the Intermountain West. Nonetheless, another storm is forecasted to hit the Pacific Northwest late in the day and overnight.
This upcoming storm is expected to bring strong winds, particularly as it moves inland on Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Saturated ground combined with wind could lead to localized power outages, especially along the coast where the winds are anticipated to be strongest.
With continual storms this week and potentially extending into the weekend, rainfall totals are expected to accumulate significantly along the coast from Vancouver Island through Northern California. This could result in heightened stream and creek levels with each successive storm.
Although snow levels may fluctuate, the highest mountain peaks are likely to retain snow throughout the storms. “Snow accumulations of 2-4 feet are projected above pass level in the Washington Cascades and Sierra Nevada,” Zehr noted.
Looking ahead, there may be a break in the storm activity around New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. For enhanced safety and an ad-free experience, consider subscribing to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app to receive advanced severe weather alerts.
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