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 visible satellite image was taken at 100 pm PST 13 Nov 2000. An area of clouds was moving across central Washington. But the clouds are thin enough to see the snow cover on the Waterville Plateau and along Highway 2. Farther to the east, skies are clear and allow a good view of the snow over extreme eastern Washington and the Panhandle. Note how clearly visible the rivers are over the Palouse and east of Lewiston.

Snowpack visible through the clouds on satellite image