Heavy Rain And Mountain Snow Roll Into Washington Wednesday

SEATTLE, WA — Multiple weather systems are poised to move through Western Washington beginning Wednesday, bringing with them the potential for river flooding and hazardous conditions in the mountains. According to the National Weather Service, light rain will begin in the lowlands Wednesday afternoon, with a few inches of snow forecast in mountain passes.

Related: Flood Watch Thursday Night As Storms Bear Down On Washington

The weather will shift into high gear Thursday, kicking off an extended period of heavy rainfall. The latest forecasts show Seattle, Tacoma, and Olympia will all see 3 to 4 inches of rain by Sunday. According to the Seattle Weather Blog, Seattle has only seen one day this year with precipitation above one inch.

In higher elevations, the heaviest snow will fall between Thursday afternoon and Saturday morning. Stevens Pass, Mount Rainier, and Mount Baker could each pick up almost 5 feet in new accumulation. Snoqualmie Pass will likely see between 12 and 18 inches.

With all the precipitation on tap, the NWS is advising all who live new rivers and other waterways to keep a close eye on forecasts and river levels. There is a potential for widespread and significant flooding in some rivers by Friday.

This week's weather also includes the potential for some breezy weather Wednesday and Thursday. Maximum gusts in Seattle, Tacoma, and Everett are estimated between 15 and 20 mph.
According to the National Weather Service, snow levels will begin to rise Thursday into Friday. The heaviest rains should subside by Sunday, with most precipitation turning to showers.