Up To 4 Inches Of Rain Possible By Friday, Forecasters Say

SEATTLE, WA — The rain clouds are here to stay, and Puget Sound is due for another soaking, according to the latest forecasts.

The National Weather Service said up to 4 inches of rainfall may be possible in the lowlands and foothills between Wednesday and Friday, increasing the risk for landslides and flooding throughout Western Washington. Between 3 and 5 inches of rain were predicted along the coast, and 4 to 8 inches forecast along portions of the Cascades and Olympics.

A flood watch will be in effect for more than a dozen counties from Wednesday morning through Friday afternoon. NWS Seattle said rivers with the highest likelihood for flooding were those flowing out the Cascades in Snohomish, King and Pierce counties. Periods of heavy rainfall also bring the potential for urban flooding in some areas.

Meteorologists said flooding could begin in some areas as early as Wednesday afternoon, but rainfall amounts could vary and the magnitude of any flooding was still uncertain. The latest river forecasts can be found on the National Weather Service website.

In the mountain passes, where winter weather brought hazardous travel conditions Tuesday, most snow is expected to transition to rain by Wednesday and remain above pass level until Saturday. The Northwest Avalanche Center said avalanche dangers will persist over the next few days.

Forecasters said a brief break in the wet weather is expected sometime Friday, ahead of another system set to move into the region Saturday.