Dec 1, 2023 - News

Four storms in a row are heading for Seattle

Christine Clarridge

A red umbrella blows inside out during a windstorm in Seattle. — People fight high winds and rain on the 15th Avenue pedestrian bridge in Seattle's University District. Photo: Genna Martin/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images

A procession of increasingly intense weather systems — including two atmospheric rivers — could bring weather drama to the Pacific Northwest through Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

Driving the news: The first of these, a "garden variety PNW December winter storm system," is expected to bring a half-inch of rain, stiff breezes and up to 30 inches of snow to the mountains and passes by the end of Friday, National Weather Service meteorologist Kirby Cook told Axios.

The second arrives Saturday, bringing gusts of up to 30 mph in Seattle and up to 45 in some coastal areas, higher temperatures and potentially more than 3 inches of rain in the Olympic and Cascade mountains.
Saturday's "typical" winter system will likely transition, without breaks, into the weekend's first atmospheric river by Sunday, Cook said.
A second, and bigger, atmospheric river arrives Tuesday with an additional inch of rain for Seattle and as much as 5 more inches of rain in the mountains, per NWS.

Be smart: Heavy rain and snow, brisk winds and potential lowland river flooding could make traveling over the next few days tricky. Be sure to check weather and road conditions before heading out.

What they're saying: "It's a good weekend to read a book or watch a movie," said Cook.

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Four storms in a row are heading for Seattle

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