The rain will fall, rivers will rise and the wind will blow Thursday
The cycle of atmospheric rivers inundating California has entered a rinse and repeat cycle for the west coast with Washington once again about to feel the outer ripples of an atmospheric river.
The latest system will bring gusty winds and rain to western Washington from Wednesday evening into Thursday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
Avalanche danger will increase in the mountains but the snow level will stay high making pass travel easier. In the lowlands, the threat of landslides will increase.
High surf on the coast will make dramatic storm watching but bring dangerous conditions to ocean beaches.
Rain and wind
While the brunt of the storm will deliver another knockout blow to California, the edges of the system will be just a typical January storm, said NWS meteorologist Kirby Cook.
The Tacoma and Olympia areas should expect 1/2-3/4 inches of rain, Cook said.
A relatively sunny start to Wednesday gave way to clouds and the occasional drizzle. That will increase as the day goes on. The bulk of the precipitation will fall between midnight and 6 a.m. Thursday.
Sustained winds of 15-25 miles per hour are possible with gusts of 35 miles per hour on Thursday.
“The closer you are to the Cascades, at least initially, will see those stronger winds,” Cook said.
Power outages are possible.
The rain will increase river levels, mainly on the Olympic Peninsula, with low lying roads and farm land vulnerable to flooding, the NWS said.
The mountains
Avalanche danger is expected to increase quickly Thursday as snow falls.
The snow level will range from 7,200 feet to 8,000 feet — well above pass level. But travelers should check with the state Department of Transportation road conditions before heading over the Cascades.
Heavy mountain rain will fall Saturday and Sunday, Cook said. Up to half a foot of snow could fall in the higher elevations.
With soils already saturated, the threat of landslides in the lowlands increases with the new round of rain, Cook said.
The coast
The storm will push waves toward beaches and headlands making for dramatic but dangerous surf, particularly in the evening on Thursday.
Waves could reach as high as 20 feet, the NWS said, before subsiding late Thursday.
MLK Jr. weekend
There will be a slight break from the rain on Friday but the holiday weekend will be wet, Cook said. Most of the precipitation will fall Saturday and Sunday.
Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, will be slightly drier. Entrance to Mount Rainier National Park and all Washington state parks will be free on Monday.
This story was originally published January 11, 2023 at 4:36 PM with the headline "The rain will fall, rivers will rise and the wind will blow Thursday."
