Up to 7 inches of rain is expected to fall in the Pacific Northwest this week as the eastern United States braces for arctic cold.
What is a polar vortex? How it affects snow and ice in the United States
A polar vortex is a large region of cold air that circulates over the North Pole. If the wind is strong, the wind will be suppressed, but if the wind weakens, it may sway or stretch.
WASHINGTON – Heavy rain is expected to fall on the Pacific Northwest this week, potentially causing river flooding and landslides in the region, as parts of the Midwest and East brace for another arctic freeze.
Flood watches are in effect for western Oregon and Washington, with up to 7 inches of rain possible in some areas through Friday, the National Weather Service said. When it rains in the region, rivers, streams, and streams can rise and flood, potentially causing flooding in some urban areas.
Oversaturated soils also increase the risk of landslides and dangerous fast-flowing debris.
Meanwhile, forecasters expect another round of cold air to settle in the Midwest and eastern states thanks to a polar vortex system. Waves of arctic air can cause storms and snowfall in some areas.
Let’s take a look at future predictions here.
Pacific Northwest Flood Watch
A series of atmospheric rivers carrying water into the sky is expected to flood coastal areas of Washington and Oregon starting Sunday and continuing into this week, the National Weather Service said.
Scattered flooding is possible on Monday, but the heaviest rain is expected later in the week, forecasters said. Up to 2.5 inches of rain is expected to fall on Monday in areas around Southwest Washington, Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Canada, with 4 to 7 inches possible in coastal areas.
The storm is expected to dump more than a foot of snow in the higher elevations of the Cascades and northern Rocky Mountains.
Temperatures below freezing midway through
Millions of Americans from the Midwest to the East Coast will be hit by another wave of freezing temperatures, according to AccuWeather meteorologists.
Cold air systems are caused by the collapse of the polar vortex, a large region of low pressure and cold air that surrounds the Earth. As the Northern Hemisphere’s polar vortex expands, it sends arctic air south.
AccuWeather forecasters expect the recent surge of cold air to move from the Midwest by Sunday to the East Coast by Monday. The blast could send temperatures below 0 degrees Fahrenheit in the Midwest early Monday morning. Temperatures could drop into the teens in other areas.
Paul Pastelok, AccuWeather’s chief long-range meteorologist, said regions with frigid temperatures may see some light snow, but a larger snowstorm is unlikely.
“A fast-moving wave of cold air will usually prevent a huge snowstorm from forming,” Pastelok said. “However, the most likely time for rapid intensification of the storm along the East Coast will be around Dec. 12.”
The National Weather Service’s long-range forecast for Dec. 10 through Dec. 14 suggests the possibility of snow in the northern Plains, Midwest, Great Lakes and Northeast.
