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Another Wet Weekend Ahead With Pulses of Stormy Weather Coming Through

Morgen Bell via Creative Commons
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You can listen to the podcast to hear why a high wind warning for most of the Puget Sound region was cancelled on Thursday

Rain and gray skies are in the weekend forecast for the Puget Sound region again – a stark contrast to the Thanksgiving holiday, which was characterized by an inversion that kept the clouds away, says KPLU weather expert Cliff Mass.  

“We went from an unusually dry period with clear skies, high pressure anda ridge over us, to one in which a trough is offshore,” said Mass.  The trough is low pressure.

“And we’re getting these continuous pulses of moisture and sometimes wind. We’ve gotten so much snow in the mountains that more ski areas are opening — like Stevens Pass – and there’s going to be enormous amounts of precipitation during the next week — really amazing amounts,” he said.

Wet Weekend Starting Saturday

On Friday, Mass says expect just a few showers floating around because of a storm system that went through. It may have been weaker than expected, but it brought plenty of rain.

“We’re in the shower regime – a few sprinkles in the lowlands, but more showers in the mountains, so they’ll have substantial rain, maybe a half an inch to an inch in some of the western slopes.”

Saturday, another strong system will come through.

“Strong southwesterly flow will develop and that flow will be moist. It will be a mini-atmospheric river which will drop 3-5 inches in the mountains and quite possibly a half an inch in the lowlands,” he said.

Atmospheric rivers are streams of air that pull in moisture from the Pacific Ocean.

Mass says temperatures will be mild, hovering around 50 degrees on average. After that, there may be a bit of a break. But he says expect more rain Saturday night into Sunday morning, when another wet system comes through.

Sunday evening, the heavy rain pattern should yield to showers again, but Mass says the next pulse won’t be far behind.

Next Week: Stormy Weather Again

“And believe it or not, Monday and Tuesday, more comes in,” he said.

That’s due to another “very strong” atmospheric river that Mass expects will be aimed right towards us late Monday into Tuesday, bringing heavy precipitation.

“So, it doesn’t end. At least a week out, we are going to get nailed by one strong system after the other, including some very strong atmospheric rivers,” Mass said.

You can listen to the podcast (attached at the top of this post) for a discussion of why the national weather service canceled a high wind warning on Thursday.  

The weekly KPLU feature "Weather with Cliff Mass" airs every Friday at 9 a.m. immediately following BirdNote, and twice on Friday afternoons during All Things Considered. The feature is hosted by KPLU Environment Reporter Bellamy Pailthorp. Cliff Mass is a University of Washington Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, a renowned Seattle weather prognosticator, and a popular weather blogger. You can also subscribe to a podcast of “Weather with Cliff Mass” shows.

Bellamy Pailthorp covers the environment for KNKX with an emphasis on climate justice, human health and food sovereignty. She enjoys reporting about how we will power our future while maintaining healthy cultures and livable cities. Story tips can be sent to bpailthorp@knkx.org.