Pacific Northwest could get more rain in two days than the rest of February
The storm system also brings a risk of 'sting jets,' intense winds that could reach 100 mph in coastal areas.
A pair of storms pummeling the Pacific Northwest are expected to dump more rain in two days than some areas have seen the entire month so far, threatening avalanches in mountain areas and flooding and power outages throughout the Washington-Oregon border region.
The system also poses the risk of so-called “sting jets,” atmospheric phenomena in which intense winds develop beneath low-pressure systems with the chance for extensive wind damage.
“It’s like a low-level jet stream that can bring damaging winds, and that’s something we’re concerned about being a possibility,” said AccuWeather meteorologist Heather Zehr. “There’s a risk of 100 mile-per-hour winds in the coastal ranges, from Washington down into Oregon.”
The Pacific Northwest region, already drenched after an atmospheric river of moisture dropped 2 to 4 inches of rain along the Washington-Oregon coastline this weekend, is getting another blast of rainfall as a second, strengthening storm muscles onto the coast Monday.
Total precipitation from both storms is predicted to top several inches, approaching 8 inches in some lower areas and up to 16 inches in mountain areas, forecasters said. That raises the risk of flooding as earlier snow melts and contributes to the runoff.
"The Pacific Northwest is not getting a chance to breathe,” AccuWeather meteorologist Jacob Hinson said in a weather release issued as the second storm approached and intensified.
Weather service warns of waves and currents
In Salem, Oregon on Sunday, the 1.04 inches of rain broke a daily rainfall record of .96 inches, set in 1996.
Along the coast from Washington southward to northern California, huge waves are expected on Monday and Tuesday, with the biggest breakers arriving Tuesday, the National Weather Service said.
In Washington and Oregon, the weather service predicted surf heights ranging from 21 to 27 feet or more on Tuesday, with the highest waves near the Washington/Oregon border. Waves as high as 25 feet are expected as far south as northern California.
Cold water, sneaker waves and rip currents can be life threatening, for “everyone visiting the beach,” not just those venturing into or near the water, the weather service said. Sneaker waves can intrude onto shores and take beachgoers by surprise.
“When headed to the beach, always remain vigilant and keep an eye on the waves and currents,” the weather service said.
Avalanches a concern amid heavy rains
Aside from the heavy downpours battering coastal and foothill regions, avalanches are another worry. The risk is highest from the upper elevations to the valley floors of Washington’s Cascades, where lower-area slopes weakly packed with snowfall are soaking up heavy rain.
“You had higher snow levels over the weekend and heavier rain higher up that loosens up some of the ground,” Zehr said. “Then you start putting additional snow on top, and that can cause further risk for slides. That’s going to be a concern over the coming days.”
Hiking is discouraged through Monday with more snow falling in the Snoqualmie Pass and other lower passes.
The fast-growing low-pressure system will pack strong gusts of 60 to 80 miles per hour along the Pacific Coast as well as inland locations and mountaintops. Seattle could see gusts of 40 to 60 miles per hour.
The strongest winds – and the highest likelihood of sting jets – are expected along the Washington-Oregon border area, posing the risk of wind damage, power outages and downed trees through Tuesday morning. The “sting” refers to the bee-stinger-like atmospheric formation on weather satellites, while “jet” is short for jet stream, a corridor of high winds in the atmosphere.
Record temps possible in the Southwest
The Pacific Northwest storm system should dissipate through the area by Tuesday afternoon and evening, with dry conditions expected through the end of the week.
Meanwhile, as that region deals with heavy seasonal moisture, the U.S. Southwest is experiencing the other extreme as temperatures heat up throughout the Four Corners and desert regions. Some cities, such as Phoenix and Los Angeles, could eclipse 90 degrees for the first time in 2025, with some locations reaching or setting record highs by midweek.