Days of heavy rain expected in Western Washington
Dec 7, 2015, 6:47 AM | Updated: 9:00 am
Rainfall of 2 to 5 inches is expected across the interior lowlands. Three to 6 inches is expected on the coast, where a high wind watch is in effect. (AP)
(AP)
Several days of heavy rainfall could lead to flooding and an increased threat of landslides.
The National Weather Service issued a special statement Monday morning, warning of wet weather that will last through Wednesday.
Rainfall of 2 to 5 inches is expected across the interior lowlands. Three to 6 inches is expected on the coast, where a high wind watch is in effect. The heavy rain will make soil less stable and increase the chance of landslides, according to the Weather Service.
Current conditions for Western Washington
A chance of flooding also exists, according to the Weather Service. A Flood Watch is in effect from Tuesday morning through Wednesday afternoon for many counties, including King, Pierce, and Snohomish.
Flooding “will probably” occur on the more flood-prone rivers by Tuesday night. Minor to moderate flooding is possible on most rivers flowing off the Olympics and the west slopes of the Cascades, the National Weather Service reports.
Between 5 and 11 inches of precipitation is expected in the mountains. The snow level will rise from 5,500 to 6,500 feet Monday and 8,000 feet on Tuesday, according to the Weather Service. That doesn’t bode well for skiers and snowboarders who just enjoyed a snow-filled weekend. Several mountains received inches of new snow; Mount Baker received more than 2 feet over the weekend.
However, the National Weather Service predicts the snow level will drop again Tuesday night. It could be as low as 3,500 feet by late Wednesday.
