NORTHWEST & SOUTHWEST - A powerful plume of Pacific moisture is set to drench parts of the Northwest through the end of the week, delivering rounds of heavy rain and significant mountain snowfall that could slow travel and raise localized flooding concerns. Coastal Washington and northwestern Oregon may see 4 to 8 inches of rain, with some areas possibly approaching 10 inches, according to AccuWeather.
The wet pattern will also bring major snowfall to higher elevations across the Washington Cascades. Passes along Interstate 90, Stevens Pass, and Snoqualmie Pass could receive two to four feet of snow, making mountain travel difficult and potentially disrupting routes moving goods through the region. Snow levels are expected to remain above the foothills, but conditions across the higher passes could become hazardous during the heaviest periods of snowfall.
While the Northwest deals with storm after storm, the opposite story is unfolding farther south. Dry skies and an early surge of warmth are expected to push temperatures well above seasonal norms across California and the Southwest.
Los Angeles could approach 90°F later this week, with Las Vegas and Phoenix also flirting with record highs. The warm spell is expected to accelerate snowmelt across parts of the Sierra Nevada and surrounding ranges, adding another layer of change to the region’s water outlook as spring approaches.
Looking ahead, the storm track may shift farther north into British Columbia next week, though periods of rain and mountain snow could still clip parts of northwestern Washington. Meanwhile, the desert Southwest may continue heating up, with Phoenix potentially approaching the 100°F mark unusually early in the season if the warming trend intensifies.
As the week unfolds, the West Coast will see a sharp weather split—stormy conditions in the Northwest and summerlike heat farther south—both of which could influence transportation and regional conditions.
Check ANUK for further weather developments impacting the industry.
