Washington's Wet Weekend: Floods, Avalanches, and Weather Warnings

Rainy days are back in Washington, and not everyone is happy about it. Over the weekend, an atmospheric river dumped a lot of water on the state, causing floods and even avalanches. Now, parts of Washington are still dealing with the aftermath. The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that western Washington would get rain or thunderstorms, while central and northeast areas might see a mix of rain, snow, and sleet. The Skokomish River in Mason County is already flooding, and things could get worse before they get better. The river is expected to rise to 17. 6 feet, causing moderate flooding in some areas. Roads like Skokomish Valley Road and Highway 106 could be underwater, so drivers need to be extra careful.The NWS said that rain would keep falling over the Olympics and northern Washington Cascades through Monday evening. Some places have already seen 2 to 4 inches of rain in the last 24 hours, and more is on the way. The Cascades in Whatcom and Skagit Counties might get the most rain, with up to 3 more inches possible. But it's not just rain causing problems. On Friday, two men died in an avalanche near Longs Pass in northern Kittitas County. The NWS described atmospheric rivers as "rivers in the sky" that carry a lot of water vapor. When they hit land, they can dump that water as rain or snow, causing floods and other issues. The good news is that the weather should start to improve by midweek. Warmer and drier conditions are expected, which might bring some relief to Washington residents. But until then, people need to stay safe and avoid flooded roads.