Sunday flood watch as ‘significant’ rain to hit through Tuesday, gusty winds through night
Feb 22, 2025, 7:09 PM | Updated: Feb 23, 2025, 9:09 pm
National Weather Service map suggests heavy rain Sunday.
Meteorologist Cliff Mass says the Seattle area will be hit with a “significant atmospheric river event,” bringing especially heavy precipitation to the mountains and South Sound areas through Tuesday.
According to the latest forecast, the Cascades could see up to 10 inches of rain, with the southern Washington Cascades expected to bear the brunt of the deluge.
It’s also expected to be very windy across the Puget Sound, with power outages possible. Seattle and Tacoma may experience up to 28 miles per hour winds and Everett up to 22 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service-Seattle (NWS-Seattle).
NWS-Seattle warned the gusty winds will stick around through the evening before “tapering back tonight.” Snohomish PUD reported over 6,000 were without power Sunday evening at one point. But that number started to come down as crews restored power.
Flood watch
One area of immediate concern was the Snoqualmie River near Carnation, where the NOAA/NWS River Forecast Center has already issued major flood warnings. By Sunday morning, the NWS-Seattle announced a flood watch for the cities of Chehalis, Fords Prairie, Burlington, Lynnwood, Lacey, Everett, Tacoma, Tumwater, Hoquiam, Marysville, Seattle, Sedro-Woolley, Aberdeen, Edmonds, Anacortes, Olympia,
and Mount Vernon through Tuesday night.
“Precipitation is expected at times through Monday night, allowing for additional rises on area rivers. Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible,” the NWS-Seattle said.
Residents in these areas are advised to remain vigilant and prepare for potential flooding, as the heavy rains are likely to stress riverbanks and low-lying regions.
“Snow levels will increase to above 7,000 feet Sunday. These conditions could result in flooding on a number of rivers,” the NWS-Seattle continued.
What are atmospheric rivers?
Atmospheric rivers, which are essentially corridors of concentrated moisture, develop when warm, moist air from the south, southwest, and west is funneled into the region. Mass says satellite imagery has captured a “massive plume of water vapor is moving” in our direction, a clear indicator of the significant moisture influx expected in the coming days.
In essence, the formation of these atmospheric rivers is similar to a terrestrial river gathering streams along its course. As the moisture converges and intensifies, communities across the region should brace for a weekend of dramatic weather shifts and the potential for severe flooding.
Updated on 02-23-25 to reflect a new flood watch and new forecast map.
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