October 17, 2024

What You Can Expect From Our First Fall Storm

By Kwabena Ledbetter, Joseph Renalds, Tayler Sheldon, and Erika Wood

Good Afternoon Huskies!

Though showers were a highlight this morning, the sun has finally begun to peak over the campus this afternoon! A weak high-pressure system moving in off the coast will leave Seattle relatively dry today, as showers drifting southeastward give us a temporary hiatus before moderate to heavy rainfall ensues Friday over much of the region via an atmospheric river.

An atmospheric river from the tropical central Pacific is set to hit Washington early Friday, bringing significant rainfall to some regions. The heaviest precipitation is expected to impact British Columbia, the Olympic Peninsula, and the North Cascades, but Seattle will also receive its share. Initially rain-shadowed, the greater Seattle area will accumulate up to ¾ of an inch as the system shifts southward and pushes out of the region by the end of the weekend.

Along with an atmospheric river, gusty winds of up to 30mph are likely to occur and intensify into Friday around noon. This of course will coincide with heavy rain, so things could get rather uncomfortable if you’re planning on being out and about. Layers, with a raincoat or jacket, will be a must-have going into Friday! If you plan on traveling north, please expect a sharp increase in wind intensity as the North Sound could experience wind gusts between 40-55 mph. If you plan on traveling to Bellingham or Whatcom County winds could gust into the 60mph range.

Earlier today, the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) released its predictions for what we could see overall during the upcoming winter. It is important to remember that this is an average and does not mean the entire winter will have weather matching what is in this outlook.

CPC is predicting that here in the Pacific Northwest, we will see a winter season with overall below-average temperatures and above-average rainfall. This is a very typical signal due to weak La Niña conditions. This generally means that we will see better snowfall numbers in our mountains which is great for those awaiting ski season and water availability heading into the summer. Now, what does this mean for potential snow here? All it means right now is that atmospheric conditions are slightly more favorable to getting colder air into the region, but nothing is certain so make sure to follow our forecasts as we get further into the winter season.

All that being said, enjoy the sun and beauty this fall afternoon, and good luck on your midterms Huskies!