Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Monday morning's headlines

Seattle's Columbia Center and Smith Tower are visible through raindrops on a window. The central Puget Sound area received as much rain in just over 15 hours over the weekend as it typically averages in the entire month of May.
Shannon Kringen
/
Flickr
Seattle's Columbia Center and Smith Tower are visible through raindrops on a window. The central Puget Sound area received as much rain in just over 15 hours over the weekend as it typically averages in the entire month of May.

Showers today; high 56 - dry for the rest of the week

Making headlines around the Northwest this morning:

 

  • Rain Records Broken - When Will it Stop?
  • Alaska Air CEO: We'll Remain Independent
  • Gregoire Signing Transportation Budget Today

 
Seattle Sets Two Rain Records in 15 Hours

Steady, moderate rain that has been falling across the Puget Sound region has set not one, but two daily rainfall records in just over 15 hours.

KOMO reports Sea-Tac airport received 0.97 inches from when the rain began at just before 7 p.m. Saturday evening through 1 a.m. Sunday.That broke the daily rainfall record for May 14, which was 0.53" set in 2001.

The rain kept coming Sunday. As of 10 a.m., 0.57" had fallen, braking the record for May 15th, too - also set in 2001. Total rainfall for Sunday was 0.82".

That put Saturday's storm in a tie for third-wettest May ever recorded at Sea-Tac and Sunday was the fourth.

Put it all together, and the region had about same amount of rain in one weekend that usually averages for the entire month of May.

More rain is expected Monday before things dry out and warm up, especially toward the latter part of the week. Latest forecast here.

 

Alaska Airlines to Keep Flying Solo

No mergers likely for Seattle-based Alaska Airlines. That's the word from Alaska Air CEO Bill Ayers who tells the Seattle Times that there have been rumors for years about somebody buying the company.

Throughout economic downturns, it's not unusual for airlines to merge: United Air joined forces with Continental; Delta merged with Northwest.

And recently, Southwest Airlines bought AirTran Airways. Renewed speculation about a possible merger for Alaska comes just before the company holds its annual shareholders meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) at Seattle's Museum of Flight.

 

Governor Signing Washington Transportation Budget

Governor  Chris Gregoire's office says she's signing the transportation budget along with several other transportation-related bills Monday afternoon at her office.

The nearly $9 billion budget includes almost $6 billion in construction projects in the next two years in Washington.

State lawmakers are still trying to agree on an operating budget in the final 10 days of the special session in Olympia.