National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Atmospheric River in the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies this Weekend

A Pacific storm and atmospheric river will impact the Pacific Northwest states and northern Rockies this weekend, bringing locally heavy low elevations rain and heavy high elevation snow in the mountains. By Sunday over the Interior Northwest, rain combined with snowmelt will increase the risk of flood hazards. Flood Watches are in effect. Read More >

This is a loop of 3.9 micron satellite imagery. This is a near-infrared channel that is sensitive to temperatures.

The image at 0130Z (530 pm PST) shows a black spot at Mt St Helens, indicating very warm temperatures. The subsequent images show the cooling of the volcano, as well as the drifting ash cloud to the east.

Ash plume on satellite image loop