Pacific Northwest Faces Another Round of Heavy Rain

The Pacific Northwest is gearing up for more rain. This comes after a powerful storm hit the region, causing rivers to swell, roads to close, and people to need rescue from flooded areas.

Heavy Rainfall and Flooding

By early Wednesday, some parts of the Cascade Mountains in Washington saw a lot of rain. The National Weather Service in Seattle reported rates of nearly half an inch per hour. Paradise on Mount Rainier got 3.25 inches of rain in just 10 hours.

School Closures and Road Hazards

Schools had to close or delay classes because of flooding. Some roads were shut down due to mudslides. On Tuesday, the first in a series of storms caused power outages, flooding, and school closures in parts of Oregon and Washington. Drivers had to deal with debris slides and water covering roads and submerging vehicles.

Rescue Operations and State Alerts

Near Seattle, fire officials used inflatable kayaks to rescue people from stranded cars. They also carried someone about a mile to safety after they were trapped in the woods by rising water.

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson said the state’s Emergency Operations Center had moved to its highest alert level because of the rain and wind.

Record-Breaking Flooding Expected

The worst isn't over yet. Some major rivers are expected to reach their highest levels later in the week. The Skagit River near Concrete, northeast of Seattle, is forecast to rise more than 15 feet above major flooding levels by Thursday, which would break a record.

Weather Forecast and Travel Warnings

Harrison Rademacher, a meteorologist with the weather service in Seattle, described the atmospheric river soaking the region as a jet stream of moisture stretching across the Pacific Ocean. He said the weather pattern looks unsettled going up to the holidays.

Portland transportation officials warned of an increased risk of car crashes because of hydroplaning or driving through flooded roads.

Extreme Weather Across the Nation

In southeast Alaska, an arctic blast could bring wind chills as low as minus 50 degrees in Skagway and minus 15 degrees in Juneau.

Meanwhile, a fast-moving storm tracking across the Upper Midwest on Tuesday was forecast to bring freezing rain, high winds, and heavy snow. Weather forced some schools to close or move to virtual lessons.

Most of the Dakotas were under a high wind warning. Winds of up to 65 mph were expected Tuesday. Parts of central and northern Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin could see heavy snow, with a mix of winter weather forecast across the Twin Cities metro and southwest Minnesota.

Commuters should allow for extra time traveling. The storm was expected to head into the Great Lakes region by Wednesday.