Category Archives: French Toast Emergency

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Freezing Rain Poised to Glaze Parts of Puget Sound on Tuesday

[WBHG News 24 – Kirkland, WA] – Seattle temperatures rose above freezing for the first time in 89 hours on Monday, but a sloppy weather system is poised to bring snow, sleet, and freezing rain to the Puget Sound lowlands on Tuesday night.

During the evening commute, precipitation will arrive in Puget Sound, rapidly spreading. From Tacoma north, expect snow and sleet before a transition to freezing rain and rain.

Focusing on our forecast area of eastern Puget Sound – Kirkland, Bellevue, Bothell, Kenmore, Redmond, and Woodinville – snow will be falling across the entire region by 7 PM. Up to 1/2 an inch of wet accumulation is possible before the transition begins. Higher hills and along the King-Snohomish County line may see a little more.

Between 8 PM and 10 PM on Tuesday, the snow and sleet will transition to freezing rain and rain. Up to 1/10 of an inch of accumulation is possible on the east side of central Puget Sound, but there is a lot of disagreement in the forecast models. We’re forecasting a transition between 1 AM and 3 AM on Wednesday morning, but keeping an eye on the situation.

The center of Seattle will have a mostly rain event, with the line between rain and a period of freezing rain roughly in the middle of Lake Washington. Kenmore and Northgate will also be in the area of freezing rain. If you’re driving east from Seattle on I-90, you may enter the tunnel on Mercer Island with it raining and exit the other side into freezing rain!

The Euro, which is the best model for predicting winter weather in our area is forecasting a transition between 5 AM and 7 AM. If this model is correct, the Wednesday morning commute will be even more challenging.

You should put off any travel on Tuesday after the evening commute, especially during the overnight hours. Low traffic and convective cooling will accelerate ice build-up on ramps, bridges, and side roads. If you have to drive, give yourself plenty of extra time, route around hills, leave extra room between you and other vehicles, and plan ahead as you approach traffic lights and stop signs.

French Toast Emergency, Health and Lifestyle, Local, Weather

Heat Advisory issued for Sunday and Monday with a side order of smoke

[KIRKLAND, Wash.] – (MTN) The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory from noon Sunday to 9 PM Monday for Western Washington, with temperatures expected to flirt with the 90-degree mark. Smoke is expected to roll into the region and linger through Tuesday.

Saturday Night

Saturday evening will be pleasant with a northwest breeze from 5 to 10 MPH. Temperatures will be perfect for sleeping – 56 to 60 degrees.

Sunday

Sunny skies with light winds will heat things up with highs reaching 88 to 92 degrees. Temperatures will be cooler by the water and hotter in urban canyons and our area hot spots like Totem Lake and Kingsgate. An onshore flow will develop, pulling smoke over the Cascades. The AQI will be moderately unhealthy, 51 to 100 PM2.5. Very sensitive groups should limit their time outdoors and avoid strenuous activity. Photographers will want to have their cameras ready for a brilliant sunset.

Sunday Night

Temperatures will drop to 57 to 61 degrees, and smoke will remain moderately unhealthy, with the AQI between 51 and 100. Smoke tends to be worse at night as cooler air sinks and pulls it closer to the ground.

Monday

Monday’s forecast is complex, which makes it tricky. If the smoke becomes denser than current models, it will moderate high temperatures. Cloud cover is expected to move in from a weak disturbance, and that will also impact the high temperature and how much smoke settles in the area. High temperatures will reach 89 to 92 degrees in the Bellevue-Kirkland-Woodinville area, with an AQI of 51 to 100. Clouds aren’t expected to roll in until very late on Tuesday, but if that accelerates, it will moderate temperatures and convert our smoke into smog.

Monday Night

Low temperatures will be 59 to 65 degrees depending on when the clouds arrive and how much smoke is in the area. Expect cooler temperatures if the current weather models hold and warmer temperatures if the area gets blanketed. AQI will remain 51 to 100. By sunrise, winds will shift to an offshore flow, moderating our temperatures and blowing any smoke left out of our region.

Tuesday Outlook

Tuesday will be mostly cloudy, with smoke blowing out of the region. Expect the AQI to move back to normal by the afternoon. High temperatures will be 80 to 85 degrees with a southwest wind increasing to 7 to 10 MPH. On Tuesday night, there is a small chance of some rain showers moving through the area, cleaning the air out and moderating temperatures back into the 70s for Wednesday.

Breaking News, French Toast Emergency, Local, Weather

Update: Excessive Heat Warning extended through Sunday as heatwave continues

[KIRKLAND, Wash.] – (MTN) The National Weather Service extended the Excessive Heat Warning for Western Washington through 9 PM Sunday as a record-breaking heatwave continues to bake the region.

On Tuesday, the temperature reached 94 degrees at Seatac Airport, breaking the previous record of 92. Wednesday’s high reached 91 degrees, and Thursday hit 94. Forecast models are coming into alignment that a 90-plus degree day on Sunday is likely. If the region reaches the mark, it would be the first six-day streak of temperatures 90 or above in modern history.

Friday

Friday is starting off two degrees warmer than the low on Thursday. High temperatures will be 93 to 97 degrees. The dew point at Seatac is rising indicating it will feel more humid than earlier in the week, making today feel more oppressive.

Friday Night

Winds will pick up overnight, with a light breeze providing some relief. Nighttime lows will be 60 to 64.

Saturday

Bright sun and searing temperatures will bake the area for a fifth day. Highs will reach 93 to 97 in the Bellevue-Kirkland-Woodinville area with almost no wind.

Saturday Night

A shift to a more unsettled pattern won’t start on Saturday night, with skies remaining mostly clear. Nighttime lows will be 59 to 63.

Sunday

Clouds won’t roll in with a marine layer push until early on Monday. The region has a very realistic chance of experiencing six days of 90 degrees or hotter in a row since weather records have been kept in Seattle – the Federal Building or Seatac Airport.

High temperatures will be 90 to 94 degrees.

Monday Outlook

A more normal weather pattern will return next week, with a strong marine layer pushing into the region as the thermal trough and the high pressure system slide away. Monday looks to be party to mostly cloudy, with a high of 79 to 83. There will be an offshore flow with winds from 8 to 12 MPH, providing much needed relief.

Due to our unseasonably cold spring and deep snowpack, area rivers, streams, and lakes remain very cold. It is possible to get hypothermia, even on a 90-degree day. Stream flow is also high, so tubers and kayakers should use caution. Currents are faster than usual. Never swim, tube, or boat near downed trees or low head dams; it is very dangerous.

Do not leave pets or children in your car, even for “just a minute.” Temperatures can soar to over 110 degrees in less than 10 minutes, leading to heat stroke or worse.

Regrettably, due to the current COVID BA.5 surge and community spread of monkeypox, people seeking cooler indoor spaces should consider wearing a tight fighting N-95 mask.

Breaking News, French Toast Emergency, Local, Weather

Excessive Heat Warning extended through Saturday as the heatwave continues

[KIRKLAND, Wash.] – (MTN) The National Weather Service extended the Excessive Heat Warning for Western Washington through 9 PM Saturday as a record breaking heatwave continues to bake the region.

On Tuesday the temperature reached 94 degrees at Seatac Airport, breaking the previous record of 92. Wednesday’s high reached 91 degrees. Forecast models are hinting that a high of 90 degrees on Sunday is within reach. If that were to happen, it would be the first six day streak of temperatures 90 or above in modern history.

A thermal trough, high pressure, and light winds have come together to send temperatures west of the Cascades into the 90s and over 100 degrees in the eastern part of the state. Humidity has been a little lower than the initial forecast models, and overnight temperatures have been a few degrees cooler adding a small amount of relief in the morning hours.

Thursday

Clear sunny skies with a light wind from the northwest and north will keep the heat going. The high will reach 89 to 93 degrees through the Bellevue-Kirkland-Woodinville area. Downtown Bellevue and Totem Lake will be the hot spots, while higher spots like Finn Hill and Houghton, as well as along the water, will be a touch cooler.

Thursday Night

Temperatures will stay above 70 until 1 AM to 3 AM, dropping to 6 to 64 degrees close to dawn.

Friday

Friday will be hotter as heat remains entrenched over the region. High temperatures will be 93 to 97 degrees. The models are suggesting that it may be a bit more humid than the previous days, adding a layer of awful for those who don’t have air conditioning.

Friday Night

Winds will pick up overnight, with a light breeze potentially pulling in some marine air. Temperatures will be closer to fine with lows dipping to 60 to 64 degrees around sunrise.

Saturday

Appears to be a near copy of Friday, with just a little less humidity. High temperatures will be 93 to 97 degrees.

Saturday Night

Some clouds start to move in, but not enough to make it mostly or totally cloudy. Lows will be 61 to 65.

Sunday Outlook

Clouds start to move in on Sunday and depending on when they arrive and thicken up will have a significant impact on the high temperature. If they arrive earlier in the day, highs will moderate and be between 85 and 89 degrees. If the clouds arrive later in the day, highs will reach 89 to 93.

Due to our unseasonably cold spring and deep snowpack, area rivers, streams, and lakes remain very cold. It is possible to get hypothermia, even on a 90-degree day. Stream flow is also high, so tubers and kayakers should use caution. Currents are faster than usual. Never swim, tube, or boat near downed trees or low head dams, it is very dangerous.

Do not leave pets or children in your car, even for “just a minute.” Temperatures can soar to over 110 degrees in less than 10 minutes, leading to heat stroke or worse.

Regrettably, due to the current COVID BA.5 surge and community spread of monkeypox, people seeking cooler indoor spaces should consider wearing a tight fighting N-95 mask.

Breaking News, French Toast Emergency, Local, Weather

Excessive Heat Warning for Western Washington as potential record-tying heatwave begins

[KIRKLAND, Wash.] – (MTN) The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for Western Washington from noon Tuesday to 9 PM Friday for high temperatures over 90 degrees and lows in the mid-60s.

A thermal trough, high pressure, and light winds have come together to send temperatures west of the Cascades into the 90s and over 100 degrees in the eastern part of the state. Temperatures aren’t being pushed up from an on-shore flow off the east slopes, so humidity will be high in Puget Sound, with dew points in the mid-60s through Friday, making it feel hotter than it is.

Tuesday

Clear sunny skies with a light wind from the north and northeast will send temperatures soaring. The high will reach 92 to 96 degrees through the Bellevue-Kirkland-Woodinville area. Downtown Bellevue and Totem Lake will be the hot spots, while higher spots like Finn Hill and Houghton, as well as along the water, will be a touch cooler. The dew point will be in the mid-60s, making it feel like it is 94 to 99 degrees.

Tuesday Night

Temperatures will stay above 80 until 11 PM to midnight and won’t drop below 70 until close to dawn. Lows for the Bellevue-Kirkland-Woodinville area will be 63 to 66.

Wednesday

Hump day looks to be almost identical to Tuesday, with clear skies and little wind. High temperatures will be 93 to 97 degrees. The humidity will make it feel like it is 94 to 99 degrees. There is a small chance for a slight onshore flow to form late in the day. That will drop the dew point. However, it will also hold the temperatures higher later in the day.

Wednesday Night

Temperatures will hold above 70 degrees well into the night, dropping below 70 between 2 AM and 4 AM. Lows will be 63 to 65 around sunrise.

Thursday

The cooler start means a slightly cooler day ahead, but it won’t be much of an improvement. High temperatures will reach 92 to 96 degrees, with the dew point still holding in the mid-60s. It will feel like 93 to 98.

Thursday Night

Right now, this appears to be the most uncomfortable night of the week. Lows will be 64 to 67, with humidity between 80% to 90%. Temperatures won’t drop below 70 degrees until 2 AM to 4 AM.

Friday

On Friday, the thermal trough will start to move, and the high-pressure area will slide a bit more to the east. High temperatures will reach 92 to 95 degrees. It will still feel like it is 94 to 97 degrees, but the shifting weather pattern will cause the humidity level to decrease by sunset.

Friday Night

Temperatures will moderate slightly, but it still won’t fall below 70 degrees until 1 AM to 3 AM. There will be little wind, and the humidity will still be high, with lows falling to 63 to 65 degrees.

Saturday

Saturday could be the day we tie a weather record of five days in a row over 90 degrees. High temperatures will be 89 to 93 degrees under clear skies. The dew point will be between 58 and 61 degrees, given the area the only day that will feel like a “normal” 90-degree day in Western Washington.

The Week Ahead

Sunday looks cooler, but temperatures will still reach 84 to 87, and the overnight lows will still be above 60. By the start of next week, it appears we’ll return to a normal weather pattern of daytime temperatures in the 70s and nighttime temperatures in the high 50s.

Due to our unseasonably cold spring and deep snowpack, area rivers, streams, and lakes remain very cold. It is possible to get hypothermia, even on a 90-degree day. Stream flow is also high, so tubers and kayakers should use caution. Currents are faster than usual. Never swim, tube, or boat near downed trees or low head dams, it is very dangerous.

Do not leave pets or children in your car, even for “just a minute.” Temperatures can soar to over 110 degrees in less than 10 minutes, leading to heat stroke or worse.

Regrettably, due to the current COVID BA.5 surge and community spread of monkeypox, people seeking cooler indoor spaces should consider wearing a tight fighting N-95 mask.

French Toast Emergency, Local, Weather

Sizzling summer temperatures will broil Western Washington during the work week

[KIRKLAND, Wash.] – MTN The average summer Western Washington has been enjoying is about to heat up, with a four-day streak of 90-plus degree weather ahead. A thermal trough, high pressure, and light winds will combine to create a classic Washington summer heat wave.

After 2021, the words “heat wave” may bring back bad memories of three days in a row over 100 degrees – it won’t be that hot. Daytime temperatures will cross 90 degrees Tuesday through Friday, while lows will likely stay in the high 60s. Temperatures won’t drop below 70 until close to sunrise, so there won’t be much overnight relief from the heat.

Sunday

A perfect late-July day awaits the Bellevue-Kirkland-Woodinville area. Skies will be mostly sunny with high temperatures between 80 to 84. Some clouds will start to roll in close to sunset.

Sunday Night

Partly cloudy skies with a light breeze from the northeast with a low of 58 to 61 degrees – perfect sleeping weather.

Monday

It warms up a little more, but the area isn’t roasting yet. Morning clouds will burn off, and the high temperatures will reach 84 to 88 degrees.

Monday Night

High pressure will slide down from British Columbia to our north, and a thermal trough will form overnight. Overnight temperatures will fall to 62 to 64 degrees. On Tuesday, things start to heat up.

Tuesday

Clear sunny skies with a light wind from the north and northeast will send temperatures soaring. The high will reach 90 to 93 degrees through the Bellevue-Kirkland-Woodinville area. Downtown Bellevue and Totem Lake will be the hot spots, while Finn Hill and right along the water might not quite get to 90.

Tuesday Night

Temperatures will stay well into the 70s past midnight before falling to 65 to 67 degrees close to sunrise. Thee won’t be much of a breeze to offer any relief.

Wednesday

The week’s hottest day will get even warmer thanks to a weak easterly flow off the Cascades. High temperatures will be 92 to 96 under clear skies.

Wednesday Night

Temperatures once again will stay well past 70 overnight, falling to 65 to 68 degrees close to sunrise. It will be almost windless, so make sure those fans are ready.

Rest of the Week

On Thursday and Friday, the high-pressure center starts to drift slowly, moderating temperatures a little bit. it is too far out to make an accurate forecast, but models support temperatures reaching 90 to 94 on both days, with lows at night falling to 64 to 67. Friday night might be a little cooler as the high-pressure area starts to move out of our region and the thermal trough breaks up.

Due to our unseasonably cold spring and deep snowpack, area rivers, streams, and lakes remain very cold. It is possible to get hypothermia, even on a 90-degree day. Stream flow is also high, so tubers and kayakers should use caution. Currents are faster than usual. Never swim, tube, or boat near downed trees or low head dams, it is very dangerous.

Do not leave pets or children in your car, even for “just a minute.” Temperatures can soar to over 110 degrees in less than 10 minutes, leading to heat stroke or worse.

If local and county officials believe that there is a heat emergency, cooling centers will be opened. King County, Woodinville, and Kirkland opened cooling centers last year, while Bellevue partnered with area businesses.

Regrettably, due to the current COVID BA.5 surge and community spread of monkeypox, people seeking cooler indoor spaces should consider wearing a tight fighting N-95 mask.

BIPOC, French Toast Emergency, Local, Weather

Widespread lowland snow will bring a White Christmas to Western Washington after all

[KIRKLAND, Wash.] – (MTN) A small shift in the storm track with a little more intensification means widespread snow across Western Washington is likely on Christmas Day into Sunday morning. After the system moves out, record low temperatures will plunge Washington state into the deep freeze creating dangerous conditions.

The I-405 corridor can expect one to four inches of snow, with some areas potentially seeing more. The Bellevue-Kirkland-Woodinville area will get three to five inches from Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon. To help the houseless, warming centers, overnight shelters, and housing vouchers are being provided across the county.

Friday morning the low-pressure system that will become our snowmaker was further south and a little stronger than what the models predicted yesterday. The National Weather Service has not issued any weather warnings for the Puget Sound lowlands at the time we went to press, but we expect Winter Weather Advisories for part of Saturday, Saturday night, and part of Sunday posted later today.

Christmas Eve started with a mix of sun and high clouds for the region, but that will be ending soon. Between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., the rain will move into the area with wet snowflakes mixed in above 500 to 1,000 feet.

Friday night temperatures will drop close to freezing in the Bellevue-Kirkland-Woodinville area, Lows will be 33 to 35 and the rain should transition to wet snow for a few hours overnight. Drivers should be cautious, especially on side streets, hills, bridges, and overpasses.

The forecast for Christmas Day is more complex than yesterday. Your location and elevation will decide how much snow will fall during the day. The urban canyons of Bellevue and Seattle, along the shoreline of Puget Sound and Lake Washington, and area hot spots like Totem Lake will see more rain than snow. The hilltops such as Queen Anne, Finn Hill in Kirkland, and the foothills in Woodinville, Duvall, and Issaquah will see more snow. Precipitation will be in showers so some locations may be mostly dry while others could get dumped on. To complicate things further high temperatures will be 36 to 38 – a couple of degrees cooler will turn that rain/snow mix into mostly snow. Additionally, conditions are more favorable for a Convergence Zone to form in the evening. Expect one to two inches of snow, with the potential for a couple of areas to get higher amounts.

Saturday night the low-pressure area is now predicted to be just off the northeastern tip of Washington. Cold air will start to be pulled down from the Fraser Valley and light snow showers will fall through the region. Another one to two inches of snow will fall, while the urban canyons of Seattle and Bellevue will get more of a rain/snow mix. Temperatures will be 25 to 27 degrees, warmer in the urban cores, and roads will become slippery.

Sunday will be cold with widespread light snow across the region into the early afternoon. The change of about 100 miles in the location of the low-pressure area has boosted the amount of snow with two to three inches expected in the Bellevue-Kirkland-Woodinville area. It is too soon to predict if a convergence zone will form, but the models are more interesting than yesterday. Snow will taper off in the evening with highs between 28 and 30 degrees.

On Sunday night snow showers will end and our region will experience record-breaking cold under mostly cloudy skies. Lows will be 8 to 11 degrees. The record low at SeaTac is 20 and doesn’t stand a chance.

Monday will be partly cloudy and very cold, with a high of 22 to 25.

Monday night will be partly cloudy and cold, with temperatures from 13 to 15 degrees. The record low at SeaTac Airport is 12, so a tie isn’t out of the realm of possibility.

Tuesday will be a slight improvement under partly cloudy skies with a high of 28 to 30 degrees.

The outlook for the rest of the week is for temperatures ten to 15 degrees below normal through Thursday, with only a slight improvement in the long-range forecast. Your weather apps might be showing a snowflake on Thursday too, but it’s too far out to make a prediction.

Cold temperatures will bring life threatening conditions

Temperatures this low are life-threatening to the houseless and Seattle’s Human Services Department is opening two overnight shelters from Dec. 25 to Dec. 29. One shelter will be located at Seattle Center Exhibition Hall and can serve about 100 people, 18 and older including pets. The other is located in Pioneer Square and can serve 80 people, 18 and older. Additionally, the Salvation Army can accommodate up to 240 people at its shelter in SODO.

If you have children and live in King County, you can Parents can call the King County Emergency Family Shelter Intake Line at 206-245-1026 between 8 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. for assistance.

The City of Kirkland announced they will be providing hotel vouchers to the unhomed in the city as well as opening warming centers. Hotel vouchers are available by contacting the City of Kirkland, police, fire, or parks departments or by calling (425) 577-5656. For families living at the safe parking lot at the Lake Washington United Methodist Church, vouchers for extended stay hotels have been provided.

Warming centers will be available at the following locations.

  • North Kirkland Community Center
    • December 27 – 29, 1 PM to 4 PM
    • December 30, 8 AM to 12 PM
  • Peter Kirk Community Center
    • December 27 – 29, 8 AM to 5 PM
    • December 30, 8 AM to 12 PM
  • Kirkland City Hall
    • December 30, 8 AM to 12 PM

Temperatures this low will be a danger to pets and backyard livestock. Cats and dogs will need places to escape the cold, ideally inside your house. Water bowls for animals will freeze up in this weather making it impossible for them to drink water.

Outside faucets should have hoses disconnected and be covered or wrapped to protect them from freezing. Setting your faucets to the slowest trickle keeps water moving in your pipes preventing freezing. For sinks that face outside walls of your home, open the cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate. Know where the water shutoff valve is for your house and make sure if you need a tool to use it, that you have one.

Extended cold is also hard on your car’s batteries. If the starter battery in your car is over four years old, the cold snap could spell the end of its useful life. Hybrid and electric vehicles can lose effective range when it is this cold. This happens due to physics impacting battery performance and the increased draw from the cabin heater, window defrosters, and comfort accessories like heated seats. If you find your range is deteriorating turning off the cabin heat and using heated seats to stay warm uses less power.

French Toast Emergency, Local, Weather

Here we blow again! Torrential rain and strong winds on tap for Friday night

[KIRKLAND, Wash.] – (MTN) Western Washington is under a series of weather warnings after a brief break from the rain, with winds up to 50 MPH and over an inch of rain on tap for Friday night and Saturday.

The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory from 7 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Saturday the Bellevue area. Winds of 20 to 35 MPH with gusts to 50 MPH are expected overnight.

On Friday, scattered rain showers will transition to steady rain by nightfall. Winds will begin to increase through the evening as heavy rain develops. Temperatures will stay in the mid-40s.

Friday night rain will be heavy with winds peaking between 2 AM and 6 AM. Temperatures will remain in the mid-40s and up to an inch of rain is expected.

Winds will be from the south impacting Finn Hill, Juanita, Kenmore, and Kingsgate. Power outages in the usual eastside trouble spots are likely. Because the ground is saturated and can’t absorb much moisture, it won’t take much for the wind to knock down trees and create additional issues.

On Saturday the wind and rain with gradually taper off, but it will remain wet and breezy. Temperatures will hold steady in the mid-40s with winds from 10 to 15 MPH.

The weather models hint at some possible lowland snow next week, but we’re not very optimistic the region will see anything beyond a few wet flakes – for now.

French Toast Emergency, Local, Weather

Wind Advisory issued for the eastside – a lot of weather ahead today

[KIRKLAND] – (MTN) The National Weather Service added a Wind Advisory to the eastside at 7:36 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. today including Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Bothell, Kenmore, Newport Hills, Sahalee, and Pine Lake.

Temperatures in the Bellevue-Kirkland-Woodinville area were over 60 degrees as an intense flow of sub-tropical air was pushed ahead of an advancing cold front. The area has reached high temperatures for the day with the front advancing into our region.

Winds will be from the south and increase as the cold front approaches, and then shift to the southwest and west and intensify. Southwest winds will rise to 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 45 mph. The ground is extremely saturated, increasing the possibility of trees being blown down. Scatter power outages are likely as the morning progresses.

When the wind shifts to the southwest temperatures will drop and by sunset will be down to 45 degrees. Drivers should prepare for a long commute on Monday evening and give themselves some extra time. Heavy rain, landslide risk, and saturated soil can impact Sounder Train service, commuters should check on conditions in the evening and have an alternative plan for the return home.

Never drive around road closed or high water warning signs, especially in the dark. According to FEMA, a passenger car or car-based sport utility vehicle can stall out in six inches of water and start to float in 12. Even if you successfully drive through high water, moisture can get into critical mechanical components and foul lubricants causing long-term damage.

French Toast Emergency, Local, Weather

Wind and rain on Monday will bring more woe to the Puget Sound lowlands

[KIRKLAND] – (MTN) When it rains it pours and it has been pouring in Western Washington for almost a week with flood watches and warnings across the region. Monday will deliver yet another punch of heavy rain and the strongest winds yet driven along an atmospheric river extending out into the Pacific Ocean.

The forecast for tomorrow is extremely challenging with little agreement across weather models. The strongest winds will move through Central Puget Sound from 6 a.m. to noon on Monday. For wind storms, Malcontent News puts more weight on the Euro Model, which is forecasting a Wind Advisory grade event for the morning.

The National Weather Service has not issued a Wind Advisory at this time. On Sunday at Seatac Airport winds reached Wind Advisory territory for three hours, peaking with a gust of 42 MPH.

For Sunday night, the rain will increase between 11 p.m. and midnight with breezy winds from the south. It will be unseasonably warm, with low temperatures from 55 to 57. South winds will be 10 to 15 MPH with increasing gusts toward daybreak. Overnight rainfall will be around one-tenth of an inch.

Monday morning will be wet, windy, and warm. Temperatures will reach 57 to 59 degrees early in the day before dropping sharply in the afternoon. Winds will continue from the south from 15 to 25 MPH with gusts to 45 MPH. Rainfall with be close to three-quarters of an inch through the area, further saturating the soil.

Saturated soils combined with the wind will increase the chance of trees being uprooted, as well as enhance the landslide risk. Scattered power outages are likely. By sunset, the winds will die down along with the rain. Overnight temperatures will drop to 38 to 40 degrees.

Drivers should prepare for a long commute on Monday morning and give themselves some extra time. Heavy rain, landslide risk, and saturated soil can impact Sounder Train service, commuters should check on conditions in the morning and have an alternative plan for the return home.

People should never drive around road closed or high water warning signs, especially in the dark. According to FEMA, a passenger car or car-based sport utility vehicle can stall out in six inches of water and start to float in 12. Even if you successfully drive through high water, moisture can get into critical mechanical components and foul lubricants causing long-term damage.