Up, down and sideways: Washington will get wet from all sides Christmas weekend
Just as western Washington was chipping ice off cars, gutters, railings and pretty much everything else Friday, a new set of storms is poised to strike the region through Monday.
Rivers will rage both in the sky and on the ground. If that’s not enough wet for you, king tides are in the forecast as well.
Thawing out
Like a freezer on the fritz, Puget Sound should soon be heading closer to room temperature before the day is finished.
“It’s going to be a pretty drastic warm-up in the next few hours,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Kirby Cook on Friday afternoon.
Christmas Eve’s high could reach the low 50s, he said.
Rain in the forecast
Widespread steady rain will begin Saturday afternoon in the lowlands with heavier rain in the mountains.
“It’s generally going to ramp up through (Saturday) morning,” Cook said.
The lowlands should expect three-quarters to one inch of rain from late Friday night through Christmas morning.
King tides
The Weather Service warned Friday that king tides could increase coastal flooding and erosion beginning Sunday.
The king tides will primarily impact coastal beaches and inlets. Saturday morning’s high tide at Olympia’s Budd Inlet will be 15.8 feet at 6:49 a.m.
As rain melts snow and ice, all rivers across Western Washington will see increased flows, especially in the Olympic Mountains.
Snow
Snow levels will rise Friday into Saturday. By midday, the snow level could reach 8,000 feet, Cook said.
In the higher elevations, rising avalanche danger will increase from rain adding weight to existing snow.
Freezing rain could still be falling in the mountains into Saturday night. Travelers should check with the state Department of Transportation for pass information.
This story was originally published December 23, 2022 at 2:19 PM.
