USA- More Than 10 Million Under a Flood Watch Threat in Northwest

Strong atmospheric river continues to dump several more inches of rain on the water-soaked Pacific Northwest, bringing flooding concerns.

Some areas have received more than seven inches of rain in the past 24 hours. Another 8 inches could fall in some areas before the end of Wednesday.

Record warm air associated with the stream of moisture extending from the subtropical Pacific will also continue to allow for very high moisture levels through early Wednesday, exacerbating the flooding potential due to snowmelt and increased runoff.

Olympic National Park has already recorded 8.67 inches of rain, and the Olympic Mountains could receive over a foot of rain by the time the storm ends.

Several additional inches of rain are forecasted across western Oregon, Washington and northern Idaho by midweek.

#WPC_MD 1189 affecting Northwest Oregon...Southwest Washington & Washington Cascades..., #wawx #orwx, https://t.co/UB6agP6qfp pic.twitter.com/Ovp4N3vkci

— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) December 5, 2023

People are advised to never drive through flooded roadways and have a plan if within an area that typically floods.

By Wednesday night into Thursday, much of the precipitation should finally begin to weaken, according to the National Weather Service.  It should then shift eastward throughout the northern Great Basin and northern Rockies, which will allow for heavy mountain snow for many of the elevated ranges.