Another storm in forecast keeps region windblown, wet

SEATTLE — After a night of heavy rain and gusty wind, forecasters say more will hit Washington Tuesday as another strong Pacific frontal system moves into the Northwest.

The National Weather Service said the lowlands could get up to 1 inch of rain with 1 to 3 inches likely in the mountains. Sustained winds should peak in the 20 to 35 mph range with the highest gusts on the coast and north interior.

The heavy rain that soaked the Puget Sound region on Saturday, pushing mud, rocks, trees and debris onto train tracks, forced the cancellation of passenger train service between Seattle and Everett until at least Tuesday morning.

KIRO 7 meteorologist Morgan Palmer said a wet onshore flow will keep rain in the forecast Monday, though rainfall intensity and coverage will diminish later as the rain turns to more widely

scattered showers.

Palmer said to expect a few breaks of sunshine, especially in the afternoon as weak high pressure tries to build in over the area.

It will remain breezy at times, especially within the showers and along the coast and north. Wind gusts will
exceed 35 mph in some areas.

Palmer said any break in the rain will be short lived as a wet and windy front sweeps across Western Washington.

Wind advisories are likely to be hoisted for the coast and north of Everett. A flood warning was issued for the Skokomish River in Mason County and the Chehalis River in Thurston County.  The rivers are expected to remain in flood stage through Tuesday.

Starting on Wednesday, rain turns to spotty showers and remains through the rest of the week with a mix of more sunshine and winds slowly subside.

A cold front is expected to drop the snow level below the mountain pass level in the Cascades by Wednesday and carry a cool, showery pattern through the week across the state.

There could be more drying for a time next weekend, though by then, temperatures are sharply colder with highs in the lower 40s, Palmer said.

KIRO