Maybe we do use umbrellas. Photo: Mat Hayward/Getty Images
An atmospheric river is hovering over the Pacific Northwest this week, bringing steady rain to the city and heavier precipitation to the mountains.
Threat risk: The bigger concern isn't rainfall totals — Seattle is expected to get a little less than an inch over the next few days, said Melissa Gonzalez-Fuentes of the National Weather Service in Seattle.
It's the steady rain combined with warmer mountain temperatures that raises concerns about melting snowpack and rising rivers, she said.
Driving the news:Flood watches and advisories are in effect through Friday for some areas in King, Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom counties.
Several mountain-fed rivers — including the Snoqualmie, Skykomish, Snohomish, Skagit and Skokomish — are expected to reach minor flood stage, with some spots potentially nearing moderate flooding today and tomorrow, Gonzalez-Fuentes told Axios.
What's next: The atmospheric river is likely to move on before the weekend, but showers remain in the forecast.
