The first notable atmospheric river system of the Fall season is set to hit Western Washington Thursday night into the weekend, bringing 1-3″ of rain and peak wind gusts of 15-40 mph.
Atmospheric rivers are common weather systems that impact the Pacific Northwest. It gets its name because it transports water vapor deep from the Pacific Ocean in a long, narrow band in the atmosphere, essentially like a river.
Puget Sound communities can expect anywhere from a half inch to two inches of rain between Thursday night into Sunday evening, with peak winds of 15-35mph. The Pacific coastline, Western Whatcom County, Western Skagit County, the San Juan Islands, and Island County could get one to 3″ of rain. These areas could potentially get 20-40mph peak gusts. High surf is expected along the Pacific coastline.
The Olympic Mountains are expected to get 2-4″ of rain. Snow will fall in the high terrain by Saturday morning as snow levels drop to 4,000′ in elevation.
As stormy weather looms over the Pacific Northwest, Snohomish Public Utilities is preparing in case there are gusty winds that cause power outages. During the summer, Snohomish PUD said crews have been trimming trees and reinforcing the power grid to prepare for the storm season. “We’ve been preparing all summer,” said Aaron Swaney, spokesperson for Snohomish PUD. “When we see storms and weather coming like this, we will stage crews around the county.”
Snohomish PUD said they have stocked warehouses and prepped equipment. Swaney explained, “When you have a lot of the leaves still on the limbs, it weighs them down.
Then, when the wind comes into contact with those limbs, they cause more damage because they’re heavier.”
While this storm system isn’t expected to cause significant, widespread damage, it’s the first notable system that will impact the region. All it takes is one strong gust to take down a tree limb that falls on a power line in a hard-to-reach place for utility crews.
Swaney is encouraging customers to pack an emergency kit with extra food, water, batteries, blankets, medications, etc., to last at least 3 days.