Seattle, WA – Gray skies have already thickened over Puget Sound as a powerful atmospheric river pushes into western Washington, setting the stage for a wet and potentially hazardous start to November. The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued a Flood Watch in effect from late tonight through late Saturday night for King, Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, and Mason Counties, including Seattle, Everett, Bellingham, and Mount Vernon.
Rain will arrive in steady bands before dawn and intensify through Saturday morning. Totals between 3 and 5 inches are expected, with locally higher amounts in the foothills and along the Cascades. The heaviest rainfall will target the Snohomish, Skykomish, Snoqualmie, and Skokomish Rivers, which could rise near or above flood stage by Saturday evening. Urban flooding and ponding are also likely, particularly in low-lying areas and along clogged storm drains choked with fall leaves.
Travelers should prepare for slower traffic along I-5, I-90, and Highway 2, where reduced visibility and pooling water could make conditions hazardous. The National Weather Service warns that fast-developing runoff could trigger debris flows on burn scars and smaller mountain streams.
While snow levels remain high — near 8,000 to 9,000 feet — all precipitation below that elevation will fall as heavy rain, keeping ski areas soaked but snow-free for now.
Residents in flood-prone zones should move vehicles and valuables to higher ground and stay tuned for updates through local alerts or NOAA Weather Radio. Rain is expected to taper by Sunday, but swollen rivers will take longer to recede.
This weekend’s system is a clear reminder that November in Washington means the return of river rise season — fast, wet, and unpredictable.
