From Cliff Mass Weather Blog
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The current atmospheric river over the Gulf of Alaska may be the strongest ever recorded in the region.
Latest model run shows extreme values for key indicators of atmospheric river strength, Vertically Integrated Moisture Transport (IVT)which describes the amount of water vapor that moves over a period of time.
Below is the map of IVT this morning, the value exceeded 1900.
Estimates of the strongest atmospheric rivers observed from 1990 to 2019 by Dr. Lexi Henny of NASA/Goddard Laboratory indicate that they were the strongest during that period of record. touching.
Moisture is very evident in this afternoon satellite image of water vapor (below). Do you see a southwest-northeast plume targeting southeast Alaska and British Columbia? Some related clouds have been moved to Washington.
This atmospheric river is expected to hit land AR-5the strongest levels were observed. Thankfully for us, the center of the river will make landfall in northern Washington state, while only AR-2 levels should occur along the northern Olympic Coast.
Coastal B.C. could see up to a foot of rain by Tuesday
Strong atmospheric rivers are not uncommon in southeast Alaska and British Columbia this time of year, and plumes of moisture can reach Washington state in November.
In fact, we are in a La Niña neutral year, which means there is a higher chance of more rain than last year (an El Niño year)… Here's what's happening in the lowlands of western Washington.
My advice. Make sure you have a decent umbrella.
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