Excessive Rainfall Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
247 PM EST Sat Dec 6 2025
Day 1
Valid 16Z Sat Dec 06 2025 - 12Z Sun Dec 07 2025
The probability of rainfall exceeding flash flood guidance is less
than 5 percent.
Cook/Wegman
Day 2
Valid 12Z Sun Dec 07 2025 - 12Z Mon Dec 08 2025
The probability of rainfall exceeding flash flood guidance is less
than 5 percent.
Orrison
Day 3
Valid 12Z Mon Dec 08 2025 - 12Z Tue Dec 09 2025
...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF EXCESSIVE RAINFALL FOR PORTIONS OF THE
PACIFIC NORTHWEST...
The 06Z/12Z model guidance suggests a slightly more suppressed
axis of greater IVT magnitudes impacting the Pacific Northwest on
the front end of the upcoming atmospheric event for the region. The
NAM/GFS/ECMWF solutions though still support very strong warm air
advection with enhanced IVT magnitudes reaching 800 to 1000+ kg/m/s
across the western WA and northwest OR coastal ranges with the
first wave that arrives in the 12Z/08 to 00Z/09 time frame. As
strong surface low pressure and associated shortwave/jet energy
crashes into British Columbia, the southern flank of the attendant
cold front will slow as it is crosses WA state and this should
allow for a relatively longer persistence of greater IVT values
across southern WA and northern OR going into the 00Z to 12Z/09
time period.
The deeper layer moisture fetch will have a trans-Pacific origin
that extends down to just west of Hawaii, and satellite data would
suggest a likelihood for tropical and subtropical moisture feeds
into this atmospheric river event which will drive very efficient
and high rainfall rates that may reach well into the 0.50" to
1"/hour range near the periods of max IVT and deeper layer ascent. The
coastal ranges in particular across southwest WA and northwest OR
along with the west-facing slopes of the Cascades farther inland
should see enhanced rainfall totals that reach as high as 4 to 6+
inches which will heavily aided by deep layer orthogonal flow
relative to the terrain.
Given the subtle southward shift in the axis of greater IVT
magnitudes and overall higher rainfall rates/totals for the
northern parts of the Olympic Peninsula and the northern WA
Cascades, the Slight Risk for this area was trimmed just a tad,
with very little to no change elsewhere. This is consistent with
the overall 06Z/12Z guidance QPF footprint. Regardless, the wet
antecedent conditions and heavy rainfall totals are expected to
drive concerns for locally enhanced areal and riverine flooding,
with urban flooding also likely to become a concern. A threat for
landslides will exist, especially toward the end of the period and
thereafter as additional upstream atmospheric river
activity/moisture transport arrives with more heavy rainfall.
Orrison
Day 1 threat area: www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/94epoints.txt
Day 2 threat area: www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/98epoints.txt
Day 3 threat area: www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/99epoints.txt