Atmospheric river to bring several inches of rain to Western Washington this week

After a relatively dry start to March, Western Washington could see several inches of rain over the next few days as an atmospheric river moves through the region this week.

Meteorologists with the National Weather Service in Seattle expect this atmospheric river to be less severe than the ones that resulted in widespread flooding and landslides late last year but say you should still expect to get wet.

“After a brief break, a weak atmospheric river remains on track to affect the region late Sunday through Monday night before another front pushes the plume of moisture eastward,” they wrote in their Friday forecast discussion. “Despite the weaker parameters at this time, area rivers will respond as at least 3 to 6 inches of rain will fall from Sunday night through Tuesday.”

Meteorologists said Friday that the only river that may spill over its banks is the Skokomish River, but they warned that other rivers could flood if the region gets more rain than they expect. The Skokomish will likely reach flood stage by Monday night, the weather service said.

Rainfall totals through Wednesday in Seattle will be between 1 and 1.5 inches, according to the weather service.  

Totals will be higher in communities to the east and in those on the Olympic Peninsula. North Bend could see 3 inches, and Forks is looking at as much as 6 inches. To the south of Seattle, cities such as Olympia and Chehalis will see between 1.5 and 2 inches.   

Meteorologists expect temperatures through the week will be seasonal, with lows in the low 40s and highs in the low 50s.