Rivers spill and records break as atmospheric river settles over Seattle area
Feb 28, 2022, 5:31 AM | Updated: Mar 1, 2022, 7:33 am
The cloud bands of an approaching winter storm (upper left) signal a bout of approaching rain. (Credit: NASA Earth Observatory via Flickr)
(Credit: NASA Earth Observatory via Flickr)
Just as frigid temperatures and record-setting lows abate, an atmospheric river is moving through Western Washington, bringing 2-4 inches of rain to the lowlands by Tuesday, and 7-10 inches to the highlands.
As of Monday afternoon, Seattle had seen 3.7 inches of rain over a 48-hour period, setting records for the Feb. 28, and making for one of the wettest February days on record.
Rain, with heavy rain at times through Monday night across the area. The rivers will rise off the Olympics and Cascades with river flooding possible. Check the river forecasts in your area for potential flooding: https://t.co/YkxhAa1gQr #WAwx pic.twitter.com/9qDJMqf81O
— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) February 27, 2022
The Tolt, White, and Snoqualmie Rivers have spilled their banks as of Monday afternoon, causing minor flooding. Snoqualmie’s city managers expect streets to be covered in water by 4 a.m. Tuesday.
Issaquah Creek is creeping higher, and the city issued a flood watch this afternoon.
A flood watch has been issued through Wednesday for Skagit County.
Meteorologist Cliff Mass, a professor at the University of Washington, reports that a “potent atmospheric river” has settled over the region. Originating in the subtropics, the weather event welcomed Monday morning commuters with a steady downpour of rain, which is expected to persist through Tuesday morning. Chances for rain are forecasted through Thursday midday.
As of the early afternoon, Seattle also broke its all-time record for total rainfall on the last day of February, with 2.3 inches having been measured by 4:30 p.m. The previous record for the day was 1.46 inches set in 1972.
With 0.20" of rain last hour the Seattle rainfall total through noon at 1.63", breaking the daily record of 1.46" set in 1972.
The top 5 wettest February days on record in Seattle.
1. 3.06" 2/8/1996
2. 2.98" 2/9/1951
3. 2.58" 2/7/1955
4. 2.28" 2/7/1945
5. 2.23" 2/27/1972 #wawx— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) February 28, 2022
The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for Northwest Washington, reporting that heavy rain Sunday evening and Monday morning could cause minor to moderate flooding in Clallam, King, Pierce, Snohomish, Whatcom, and other Northwestern counties. Flood watches are also in effect for the Southwest Washington coast.
“The Olympics and coastal mountains get staggering amounts of precipitation,” Mass writes.
On Monday, snow levels will rise to 5,000-6,500 feet. Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass are expected to see rain through Tuesday in the inches.
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