Powerful storms dump heavy rain and swell rivers across US Pacific north-west | US weather

A series of powerful storms has slammed the Pacific Northwest, dropping heavy rain, swollen rivers and sending rescue crews through high water in many states.

An unusually powerful storm system called an atmospheric river is moving through the region, bringing heavy precipitation to western Washington and northwestern Oregon and more than 12 inches of snow to the northern Rockies and northwestern Wyoming.

While intense weather is expected to continue for several more days, flood watches will be in effect along the Pacific coast and in the Cascades until mid-week.

Emergency crews were already on edge due to the weather conditions. Firefighters in Snohomish County, north of Seattle, rescued two people trapped under floodwaters at a campground, local television stations reported. Officials said the crew used drones and water rescue vehicles to reach them and take them to safety.

A mudslide temporarily closed the interstate near North Bend, east of Seattle. Flooding also caused highway closures on various portions of 101.

The weather service’s Weather Prediction Center predicts several days of heavy precipitation in western Washington and northwestern Oregon, while the trans-Pacific jet stream will bring heavy rain along the coast and snow in the mountains.

The weather service’s Seattle office said in a social media post Tuesday morning that the atmospheric river has shifted southward, but precipitation is expected to shift northward later in the day, which will cause a new round of heavy rainfall and cause significant river flooding to continue.

Meanwhile, a fast-moving storm moving eastward across the upper midwest is forecast to bring a host of wintry weather, including freezing rain, gusty winds and heavy snow.

“This is definitely one of those complex winter weather events that we’re going to experience depending on where you are in the northern plains,” said Ryan Dunleavy, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Minnesota’s Twin Cities.

North Dakota was experiencing rain and freezing rain, and much of the state was under a travel ban warning due to freezing rain and slippery roads. Due to weather conditions, some schools closed or moved to virtual classes.

Most of Montana and the Dakota islands were under a high wind warning.

Winter weather is also expected to impact the evening commute in Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin, while heavy snowfall can be expected in parts of central and northern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin.