Heavy rainfall reported across Western Washington
Sep 9, 2019, 8:24 AM | Updated: 10:52 pm
Rainfall drenched areas of Western Washington on Monday with forecasters warning of the potential for thunderstorms and lightning.
A photo taken near Conway (south of Mt Vernon) in Skagit Co. near 130 PM of what appears to be a funnel cloud. A radar velocity image near that time shows the possible cell. A few cells in the region today have shown modest rotation, but no reports of anything reaching ground. pic.twitter.com/pzOfoxznon
— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) September 10, 2019
The National Weather Service in Seattle reports that 1 to 2 inches of rainfall fell in under three hours in Everett. North Seattle and Shoreline areas saw heavy downpours before the commute started. West Seattle and Alki Beach got drenched around 4:30.
According to KIRO 7 meteorologist Claire Anderson, the Puget Sound region can expect more rain into Tuesday, with conditions drying out after that. Temperatures will stay cool — in the 60s — this week.
After a busy weekend— we are ending with a few scattered showers. Will we see more rain and storms for the work week?
Tune into @kiro7seattle right now for details! #kiro7seattle #seattle pic.twitter.com/Nxmrxnktgd
— Claire Anderson (@ClaireKIRO7) September 9, 2019
The Saturday thunderstorm was a surprise to many as the region does not often experience such a show of light and sound. About 2,200-2,300 lightning strikes occurred within two hours.
“It’s very unusual for Western Washington,” said Kirby Cook, science and operations officer for the National Weather Service. “Not unheard of, but unusual … we just don’t get a lot of thunderstorms here in Western Washington. They are not as common as in some places like Oklahoma or Florida; places that have warmer temperatures and abundant moisture to drive thunderstorms.”
