Prep your rain gear: Western Washington to get drenched this weekend

January 26, 2024 / 12:38 pm

caption: A cyclist rides along Harbor Avenue Southwest in the rain on Thursday, November 3, 2022, in Seattle.

Grab your rain gear before you head outside in Western Washington this weekend.

An atmospheric river is expected to settle over the region Friday evening and last through early next week, according to the National Weather Service.

Total precipitable water (a measure of water vapor in a vertical column of the atmosphere) is a great indicator of precipitation potential. You can see abundant moisture streaming into W WA in the form of an atmospheric river, which will form Friday into next week. #WAwx pic.twitter.com/6N3TKtGSoY
— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) January 25, 2024

The lowlands can expect up to three inches of rain during this time. Plus, snow levels will also rise above 7,000 feet, increasing the potential for river flooding in some areas. In particular, the National Weather Service is keeping an eye on flooding along the Skokomish River for the next few days.

NWS also warned that there may be an increased risk of landslides this weekend into next week.

Temperatures will be mild, though, with highs in the mid to upper 50s. There's even a chance highs could hit 60.

In addition to the wet weather coming up, it's going to turn quite mild. It's been 4 years since Seattle last reached 60 degrees in January. Could we do it again? There's a nearly 60% chance that we will on both Monday and Tuesday of next week. #wawx
— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) January 26, 2024

In related and likely welcome news, the sun will set Friday after 5 p.m. —5:01 p.m. to be exact — for the first time in 2024.

Seattle got nine hours and 15 minutes of sunlight on Thursday, compared to just eight hours and 25 minutes back on Dec. 21, the winter solstice. A month from now, we'll be enjoying more than 10 hours of daylight.