A series of Pacific storms have lined up from Hawaii to British Columbia. The first of these produced widespread flooding across western Washington over the past few days, having directed its "atmospheric river" at that State before coming ashore in Canada.
Following a reprieve today, the second storm will arrive off the Pacific Northwest coast by tomorrow and its atmospheric river is expected to pummel the area once again. Since its air will be warmer than that of the first storm, it will likely trigger snowmelt across lower elevations of the Cascades, augmenting the severity of the deluge. Unfortunately, a third storm is currently swirling near Hawaii and, depending on the angle of its attack, may bring flooding rains to western Washington as well.
Guided by the jet stream, such storms are responsible for the relatively mild, moist climate of the Pacific Northwest. But when the weather pattern fails to shift, recurrent storms direct their cargo of moisture across the same coastal region, producing destructive floods and landslides.
