Rain Returns For The Final Week Of Winter: Puget Sound Forecast

SEATTLE — With an extra hour of daylight, many in Puget Sound enjoyed some bountiful sunshine for most of Sunday, but the week ahead has the makings of a fairly wet winter finale. The National Weather Service expects periods of moderate to heavy rain will impact Western Washington through at least Tuesday, increasing landslide risks and bringing the potential for some river flooding.

Fortunately, the latest river forecasts have decreased from earlier models, but there may still be some impacts for flood-prone areas, like farmlands and low-lying roadways. Runoff from the storms could bring some of the usual suspects — like the Skokomish River — to the minor flood stage, but widespread flooding is not expected.

Forecasters wrote Sunday that Western Washington should expect "a prolonged period of wet and active weather" over 48 hours, with the highest precipitation totals likely for the coast and the Olympics through Tuesday night. Most other areas can expect 1 to 2 inches of rain, with the South Sound more likely to land on the higher end. There will also be a slight chance for thunderstorms Tuesday.

Travel over the passes could also be tricky at times, with another round of heavy snow due Monday night through Tuesday evening.

Wednesday should bring a break in the action before another system moves in Thursday night, with more showers expected heading into next weekend and the official start of spring on Sunday, March 20. The good news, when things finally clear up again, is that the sun won't set before 7 p.m. again until late September, and Puget Sound is currently adding about three-and-a-half minutes of daylight each day.

Here is the five-day weather outlook for the Seattle area:

• Monday: 48°/46° (Rain)
• Tuesday: 51°/42° (Rain)
• Wednesday: 52°/42° (Mostly cloudy)
• Thursday: 50°/43° (Rain likely)
• Friday: 54°/45° (PM rain likely)