High winds, heavy rain and power outages expected as atmospheric river continues to soak Western Washington

Another wet, breezy day is on tap for Western Washington as the region continues to be battered by an atmospheric river event.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Seattle is currently predicting widespread rainfall starting Monday morning as a front moves over the Puget Sound region. The region is still experiencing an atmospheric river, a concentrated corridor of moisture that shoots wetness into an area for an extended period of time.

"As a general guide, rainfall totals from midnight Monday through this afternoon are generally expected to range from 3 to 5 inches
in the Olympic and N Cascades to 1-2 inches from the Coast and North Interior to around an inch around Puget Sound and remaining Cascade zones," wrote NWS in their Monday forecast discussion. "This will likely lead to significant river flooding across northern counties and will likely impact many area roadways."

Along with heavy rainfall causing localized flooding, the region will also experience powerful wind gusts throughout the day Monday. The Seattle area is expected to see maximum winds speeds between 30 to 35 miles per hour Monday, while areas farther north like Everett and Mount Vernon could experience gusts as strong as 40 to 45 miles per hour.

As of Monday morning, SeaTac had seen peak wind gusts of 46 miles per hour. Tree damage and power outages may occur as a result of the high winds. NWS is reminding residents to secure loose items outdoors, maintain a safe distance on the road when driving and never go near downed power lines as they might still be live.

There are also currently several significant road closures due to flooding or downed trees. The Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has created a list to keep drivers informed about closures. Several ferry sailings have also been canceled Monday morning due to rough seas.

Major flooding continues to pose a threat along the Skagit River, and some areas have even been evacuated due to flood risk. River levels are expected to recede by Tuesday.

"Record breaking flooding is forecasted for the Skagit River at Mount Vernon," wrote NWS. "Current forecast calls for a crest of 39 feet at Mount Vernon with the record being 37.34 inches set on Nov. 25, 1990."

Things will briefly dry out and winds are expected to calm down for a break in active weather on Tuesday. Cooler weather is on the way, with NWS predicting that Tuesday could be 15 to 20 degrees cooler in some locations. Highs in the mid to upper 40s and lows in the 30s are expected for much of the region, and some lowland areas could see freezing temperatures by Wednesday morning.

Another storm front is expected to move into Northern Oregon by Thursday, potentially bringing more breezy, wet weather by the end of the week.