The Pacific Northwest and Northern California, especially Washington and Oregon, have had an onslaught of storms, and the run of them is expected to continue over the next week.
These systems, known as atmospheric rivers, are predicted to be quick-hitting, weak to moderate in severity and unlikely to cause extreme weather on an individual basis.
Together, though, they will have an impact, heightening the risk of holiday travel disruptions.
“Because they’re piled up over time, we’re looking at a significant amount of rainfall over the next week,” said Frank Pereira, a meteorologist with the Weather Prediction Center. “River flooding will become a growing concern as these systems continue to impact the area.”
Areas that could get some of the highest rainfall totals include the Olympic Peninsula in Washington and parts of far Northern California, where 6 to 14 inches of rain is possible over the next seven days, according to the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes.
Rivers are expected to swell, and numerous ones in Washington and Oregon are at risk of flooding.