“This is going to be really bad,” warned former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) chief scientist and meteorologist Ryan Maue on X, on Wednesday morning, referring to an “onslaught of atmospheric rivers” forecast to drench California over the next 10 days.
What To Know
Following last week’s atmospheric rivers—which triggered flooding in the Cascades and Washington—the West Coast is facing another series of storms, now shifting south. These systems are expected to bring heavy rain and mountain snow to Oregon and Northern California from Wednesday into the weekend and next week, according to senior meteorologists at The Weather Channel.
In summary, these meteorologists have forecast that Wednesday could bring heavy rain and high winds to the northwest and far northern parts of California, lessening to showers on Wednesday afternoon.
Another atmospheric river will then hit Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana on Thursday, bringing snow and rain. By Friday, the system is expected to move into southern Oregon and northern California, particularly affecting areas north of the Bay Area. Over the weekend, there is a concern that northern California will be badly affected by rainfall on Sunday, with locally heavy rain forecast to return to Oregon and Washington.
They’ve predicted that the heaviest rainfall is expected to fall over the weekend, in western Oregon and northern California, particularly Siskiyou and coastal ranges along the California coast, where up to 5 inches of rain is forecast. This is likely to cause flash flooding and possibly even landslides—especially in areas that have recently experienced wildfires.
Already flooded areas in Washington—particularly the Skagit, Snohomish, Green, White, Cowlitz, Chehalis, and Yakima Rivers—could experience secondary crests, a later rise in river levels, from the additional rainfall. Although levels aren’t expected to be as high as last week, it could cause “major flooding,” especially along the Skagit River.
The Weather Channel meteorologists and the National Weather Service (NWS) predict that the heavy rain is likely to continue to hit California next week, in the run-up to Christmas.
What People Are Saying
The NWS Climate Prediction Center posted on X that: “Atmospheric rivers are expected to bring major holiday travel hazards to parts of the West.”
NWS lead meteorologist Matt Mehle previously told Newsweek that: “A stronger, more potent storm system will come in on the 22nd and 23rd, so that’s going to be leading right into the Christmas holiday. It could impact travel.
Former NOAA chief scientist and meteorologist Ryan Maue posted: “California is looking at historic precipitation from onslaught of atmospheric rivers in next 10-days. Could be 20″ or 30″ mostly rain in the Sierra from ‘firehose of moisture’ directed right at coast with strong jet stream. This going to be really bad.”
What Happens Next
Residents in all affected areas are advised to remain vigilant and prepare for flooding (or snow in higher regions) as we move into the holiday period.