Another Atmospheric River in the PNW this Weekend – HEAVY RAIN

It sure seems like the term “atmospheric river” is being thrown around a lot by meteorologists lately. It's a bit of an ominous term if you ask me, I mean the first thing I think of when I hear it is if I should have the wife, kids, and dog ready to board an ark.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an atmospheric river is a river in the sky... "that transports most of the water vapor outside of the tropics...carrying an amount of water vapor roughly equivalent to the average flow of water at the mouth of the Mississippi River. When the atmospheric rivers make landfall, they often release this water vapor in the form of rain or snow."

So, yes, you could say another heavy rain storm is expected to hit the Pacific Northwest this weekend, and thankfully, it won’t require you to build a boat. It might however require you to adjust your camping plans, especially if they include being in the mountains. If you’re not camping and sticking close to the TRI - I would recommend mowing the lawn on Thursday or Friday.

From the National Weather Service in Pendleton

“Unsettled weather will return to the Pacific Northwest Friday through the upcoming weekend. This will occur as another powerful storm system sweeps across the region, bringing bountiful Pacific moisture inland. The Cascades and mountains of northeast Oregon and southeast Washington look to pick up the most rainfall with this event with some areas seeing another half-inch to an inch or more of rainfall. While there may be a few thunderstorms, the potential for severe storms appears fairly low right now. Details will surely change so be sure to check back for details!”

The National Weather Service reports that the Tri-Cities has a 50% chance of rain on Saturday with highs around 80. Sunday will be slightly cooler with a chance of rain and highs in the mid-70s. As mentioned above, conditions could change so be sure to monitor your weather app for updates. Wherever you plan to travel this weekend – bring an umbrella and rain jacket.