Storms will persist in moving in from the Pacific Ocean into the northwestern United States into the upcoming week. However, meteorologists at AccuWeather predict that the main storm track will gradually shift southward, leading to a cooling trend and increasing chances of rainfall further south in California.
A recent storm that reached the Washington and Oregon coasts on Wednesday evening did not result in severe thunderstorms due to its late arrival. Nevertheless, some areas along the Interstate 5 corridor experienced locally heavy and gusty thunderstorms.
The satellite image of the northern Pacific Ocean on Thursday morning, March 27, 2025, shows storms lining up from west to east. Cloudy conditions and heavy rain along the coast may lead to ponding on highways and could trigger rock and mudslides in hilly terrain through Friday.
Snow levels are expected to lower in the Cascades, Siskiyous, and northern Sierra Nevada by Friday. Ridges and peaks may see a mix of rain and wet snow with up to a foot of accumulation possible.
East of the Cascades, a second round of gusty thunderstorms with hail is possible on Thursday afternoon and evening. As colder air moves in aloft, chilly conditions will prevail on Thursday night and Friday.
As a storm system moves inland over the weekend, some dry air will follow with a potential for a temperature rebound where the sun emerges along the Pacific coast.
Another storm is expected to approach later in the weekend, bringing moisture farther south along the Pacific coast. Rain is likely to soak coastal areas in southern Oregon and parts of Northern and Central California, with showers extending inland from Sunday to Monday.
In the following week, additional storms will bring batches of moisture from the Pacific Ocean. One system may offer late-season rain and mountain snow in Northern and Central California. The stretch from southwestern Oregon to northwestern California stands to benefit the most from this pattern, with potential rainfall of 5 to 10 inches in some areas.
Moreover, several feet of snow could accumulate in the Sierra Nevada high country, aiding seasonal snowfall totals before the end of winter. Advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts are available by subscribing to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app.
