SEATTLE - After a nice, dry weekend, Western Washington was hit with heavy rains Monday and they are expected to stick around for the next couple of days.
Heavy winds will also ramp up, with high wind watches issued for the Washington coast and Olympic mountains, where gusts could reach 60 mph or more.
"The rivers are flowing, and not just on the ground! An atmospheric river is directing very mild and very moist air into Western Washington from the tropics and that resulted in record-high temperatures at Bellingham and Hoquiam reaching 61 and 58 degrees respectively. And Quillayute airport recorded more than 4 inches of rain - another record," said KING 5 meteorologist Jeff Renner.
A flood watch will be in effect from Monday afternoon through Wednesday afternoon for Grays Harbor, Clallam, Jefferson, Mason and Whatcom counties. Mason County Emergency Management officials say they expect the Skookumchuk River to reach flood stage (at 16.5 feet) sometime later Monday afternoon. At last report around 2 p.m., the Skookumchuck River had not yet reached 16 feet.
The National Weather Service says between 5 and 7 inches of rain may fall in the Olympics in a 24-hour period ending at 4 p.m. Monday, likely driving the Skokomish River above flood stage.
In the Mount Baker area of the North Cascades, up to 5 inches of rain are expected.
Freezing rain remains possible in the Cascade passes and a freezing rain advisory remains for the Cascade passes until 6 a.m. Tuesday.
A high wind watch is in effect from late Monday afternoon through late Monday night for the south Washington and north Oregon coasts. Strong southerly winds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts to 70 mph are expected, with the strongest winds near headlands and beaches.
The front will finally move out of Western Washington on Wednesday. Van Cise says we may get a dry break on Thursday before the next system rolls in later Friday.
Debris from a mudslide on Highway 101 near Lilliwaup in Mason County closed one lane, but workers were able to clear all debris from the roadway.
Freezing rain in the passes
Traveling through the passes could get tricky. Cooler easterly winds will keep temperatures below freezing, increasing the potential for freezing rain.
A freezing rain advisory is in effect until 3 p.m. Monday for areas of Central Washington, including the cities of Ellensburg, Sunnyside, Yakima and Cle Elum.
Snow and freezing rain is also possible for the Moses Lake area, the Upper Columbia Basin, the Wenatchee area and the Waterville Plateau through at least Monday.
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