National Weather Service meteorologist Noah Alviz said the best way to sum up the forecast for the next seven days would be a single word: wet.
A parade of short-lived atmospheric rivers is forecast to drop 3 to 4 inches of rain in the Willamette Valley, and 5 to 7 inches of precipitation in the mountains and coast over the next seven days.
The most likely impacts at this point include:
- Possible flooding of coastal rivers around or after Christmas
- High winds and possible power outages, mostly at the Coast but also possibly the Willamette Valley, around Christmas
- Possible snow on Cascade Mountain passes Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or just after Christmas Day. Total amounts or impact is unclear at this point.
It’s a weather system that doesn’t look as though it will bring massive and widespread disruption, at least at this point, but could bring some local complications, Alviz said.
For those interested in winter recreation, like skiing, the forecast isn’t ideal with rain mixed with snow even at the highest elevations.