# Northwest soaking continues, with an atmospheric river Friday into Saturday

Published November 9, 2026, 7:46 AM ET  
By Ryan Hall, Y'all  
Written by our automated news desk from National Weather Service data.

Western Washington and Oregon stay wet all week, with up to 11 inches in the Olympic Mountains. Seattle could tie its record high of 65 on Wednesday, then an atmospheric river settles over Western Washington Friday into Saturday. Mountain snow is limited to the highest peaks until the weekend.

## Key points

- **Where:** Western Washington and Oregon, with the heaviest rain in the Olympic Mountains.
- **When:** Rain through the week. Seattle's warm spike is Wednesday. The atmospheric river arrives Friday and lingers into Saturday.
- **What:** Up to 11 inches in the Olympics, about 1.8 inches in Seattle, and about 1.4 inches in Portland and Eugene over seven days.
- **What it means:** A wet week, with an atmospheric river stalling over Western Washington Friday night into Saturday. Snow stays on the highest peaks until the weekend.

The Pacific Northwest stays wet all week, with up to 11 inches of rain in the Olympic Mountains by this weekend. Seattle could tie its record high on Wednesday, then an atmospheric river moves over Western Washington on Friday and stalls there Friday night into Saturday.

## Seattle could tie a record Wednesday

Seattle's forecast high Wednesday is 65 degrees. That would tie the record set in 1990.

A tie is possible, not guaranteed.

## The wet pattern doesn't let up

Over the next seven days, the Olympic Mountains pick up the most, with a peak near 11 inches. Mountains squeeze moisture out of the air as it rides up the slopes, and the Olympics take the biggest share in this forecast.

Crescent City, California, is forecast to get about 3 inches. Seattle looks to get about 1.8 inches, and Portland and Eugene about 1.4 inches each. Those are totals for the whole week, not one storm.

No flash flood risk is outlined for Tuesday or Wednesday. The national outlook shows less than a 5 percent chance of rain exceeding flash flood guidance on both days. Check the [flash flood outlook](/excessive-rainfall) each morning.

## An atmospheric river parks over Western Washington Friday into Saturday

An atmospheric river is a long, narrow stream of moisture flowing in off the Pacific. Think of it as a firehose of humid air pointed at the coast. A series of disturbances brushes the coast this week. The atmospheric river is expected to stall over Western Washington instead of moving through.

Friday into Saturday is the part to plan around, with the atmospheric river expected to stall over Western Washington Friday night into Saturday.

## Snow stays high, for now

Freezing levels are high this week, so any accumulating snow stays on the highest Cascade peaks through Thursday. That changes over the weekend. Heavy mountain snow is expected in the Cascades, the northern Sierra and the northern Rockies on Saturday and Sunday. Our [winter storm outlook](/winter) will track which passes get hit.

## What to do

- Clear leaves from storm drains and gutters near your home this week.
- Check low spots on your commute, especially on Friday night and Saturday morning, while the atmospheric river stalls over Western Washington.
- Check the [interstate driving outlook](/interstates) before heading over the Cascades this weekend, when heavy mountain snow is expected.
- Monitor local alerts as the rain continues. [Y'all Alerts](/alerts) are free and send them to your phone.

## Bottom line

Expect a wet week across the Northwest, a possible record-tying 65 in Seattle on Wednesday, and an atmospheric river stalling over Western Washington Friday night into Saturday. Check back Thursday for updates.

## The numbers

### Seven-day rain forecast, Monday through this weekend

|  | Value | Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Olympic Mountains (peak) | 11.72 inches | Highest spot in the forecast |
| Crescent City | 3.2 inches |  |
| Seattle | 1.8 inches |  |
| Portland | 1.4 inches |  |
| Eugene | 1.4 inches |  |

Source: WPC 7-day QPF, cycle 00Z Mon 11/9

More on: [November 2026 weather](https://ryanhallyall.com/news/topic/november-2026-weather)

Places in this story: Seattle, WA

## Sources

- [data/p168m_2026110900f168.grb from](https://ftp-wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/2p5km_qpf), NOAA Weather Prediction Center

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From Ryan Hall, Y'all (https://ryanhallyall.com). Always follow official warnings from the National Weather Service.