Oregon's atmospheric river deluge may not be over yet
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While the excessive rainfall threat is winding down, the Pacific Northwest is still expecting to see more showers, snowfall and strong winds over the next few days.
Driving the news: A series of atmospheric rivers dumped over 9 inches of precipitation across the region this week.
- Two people may have drowned in Portland-area creeks, dozens of schools closed across the state, and Amtrak canceled service between here and Seattle as a result of landslides through tomorrow am.
- A winter weather advisory has also been issued for the Cascade mountain range, with up to 20 inches of snowfall and 45 mph winds expected this morning — making travel difficult on the Santiam Pass, Highway 58 and throughout the Government Camp area.
By the numbers: From Dec. 1 to Thursday morning, Portland International Airport recorded an estimated 5.24 inches of rain.
- Over the same period, Mount Hood saw an average of 6 to 8 inches of precipitation, according to Noah Alviz, a meteorologist with Portland's National Weather Service.
What they're saying: "The rain is not quite over yet," Alviz tells Axios.
- Portland will experience a brief break in the rain Friday, however, another mid-to-moderate atmospheric river is expected over the weekend, he said, with forecasted rainfall amounts in the Willamette Valley being three-quarters of an inch to 1 1/2 inches.
Between the lines: Atmospheric rivers are long, narrow highways of moisture that can travel thousands of miles and carry as much as 15 times the average flow of water at the mouth of the Mississippi River.
- They are responsible for 30–50% of the wet season precipitation along the West Coast, according to NOAA.
- Climate change is adding even more moisture to atmospheric rivers, leading to higher rain and snow totals, per Axios' Andrew Freedman.
What's next: By next week, the Pacific Northwest is likely to be back to its "regularly scheduled programming" with scattered rain in the lowlands and snow in the mountains and passes, Seattle-based meteorologist Kayla Mazurkiewicz told Axios' Christine Clarridge.