Active Weather System Brings Rain, Wind, and Snow to Pacific Northwest Region Tonight | News

Friday 22nd November 2024 05:06 AM

Wet and Windy

Tonight Through Saturday Night: An Active Weather Period Ahead

The Pacific Northwest is staying busy with weather as a strong upper-level low off the coast continues to influence our region. This system will send waves of moisture and wind our way, keeping things interesting through Saturday night.

Tonight into Friday Morning: Rain, Wind, and Some Snow

Warm Front Moves In:
A surface low off the southern Oregon coast will send a warm front across our region. Expect widespread rain, especially over the Washington Cascades and eastward into the Yakima and Kittitas valleys.
Windy Conditions:
Strong southerly winds will impact areas like the Blue Mountain foothills and the Grande Ronde Valley. A Wind Advisory is in place from 2 AM to 3 PM Friday.
- Winds won’t be as strong as earlier this week, but gusts may still reach 40-55 mph in spots. Use caution if traveling, especially with high-profile vehicles.
Winter Weather Highlights:
While most areas will see rain due to rising snow levels, colder spots along the east slopes of the Cascades in Washington might get a mix of freezing rain (a light glaze possible) or significant snowfall (5–10 inches in higher elevations). These outcomes are still uncertain but worth keeping an eye on if you’re headed into these areas.

Friday Afternoon & Evening: Rain Ramps Up

As the cold front arrives, rain will intensify, especially in the eastern Columbia Basin and the Blue Mountains. An atmospheric river bringing abundant moisture will lead to significant rainfall totals:

Lower Elevations: 0.5 inches possible.
Northern Blues: 0.7–1 inch likely.

For snow lovers:

Snow levels will remain high Friday, keeping heavy snow chances lower for the Blues and Wallowa County (20–50% chance of 6 inches above 4500-5000 ft).
Wallowa County has a slight chance (10%) of seeing 4 inches of snow.

Saturday: Lingering Showers

Rain and snow showers will taper off but linger around the Blue Mountains, their foothills, and the Cascade crest. A new Pacific low might bring additional weather Saturday night, though confidence in the details is still low.

Looking Ahead: Sunday Through Thursday

Sunday & Monday:
A southwest flow keeps the region mostly dry, though the Cascades could see occasional light rain or snow.
Monday Night into Tuesday:
A new upper-level trough will bring another round of precipitation, focused on the mountains. Rain and snow amounts will be light overall, but watch for travel impacts in higher elevations.
Midweek (Wednesday & Thursday):
The system moves east, bringing a break in the active weather. Drier air and possibly even a ridge of high pressure may lead to calmer conditions.

Travel Outlook for the Week

No major storms are expected during the busy travel week leading up to Thanksgiving. While it won’t be sunny, any mountain snow is likely to be light, making for relatively manageable conditions overall.