Drenching storms, cooler air to expand southward along West Coast
The storm that arrived along the Washington and Oregon coasts late Wednesday failed to produce severe thunderstorms, primarily due to its late arrival. However, some locally heavy and gusty thunderstorms still developed along the Interstate 5 corridor.
With thick clouds and drenching rain persisting along the coast into Friday, ponding may occur on some highways, rainfall could be heavy enough to trigger some rock and mudslides in the hilly terrain.
Snow levels will lower in the Cascades, Siskiyous and northern Sierra Nevada into Friday. A mixture of rain and wet snow will fall over the ridges and peaks, with up to a foot of accumulation possible.
East of the Cascades, a second round of gusty thunderstorms with hail is possible Thursday afternoon and evening as just enough warmth lingers in the lower part of the atmosphere and much colder air arrives aloft. Chilly air will mix down Thursday night and Friday.
As the warmth-busting storm moves well inland on Saturday and Sunday, some dry air will follow. Where the March sun emerges, it will help spark a modest temperature rebound along much of the Pacific coast.
Another storm well offshore as of Thursday will roll in later this weekend. The exact track and intensity of that storm is fluctuating, but indications suggest that at least a broad plume of moisture from the storm will move in farther south along the Pacific coast as the jet stream dips more.Have the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts™ with Premium+
Rain may soak some coastal areas in southern Oregon and Northern and Central California, with showers breaking inland from Sunday to Monday.
Next week, additional storms carrying batches of moisture will roll in from the Pacific. At least one system will bring opportunities for some late-season rain and mountain snow in Northern and Central California.
The best chance of rain showers to reach coastal areas of Southern California - including Los Angeles and San Diego - will be from Wednesday to Friday.
"The zone that could be the biggest beneficiary of the pattern through next week may stretch from southwestern Oregon to northwestern California," AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said.
Between 5 and 10 inches of rain could fall in part of the region.
"As the pattern continues to evolve through next week, several feet of snow could fall in the high country of the Sierra Nevada, which would be a fine boost to seasonal totals prior to the end of wintry weather," Rayno added.
Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts™ are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.

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National Hurricane Center issues 1st advisory on Tropical Storm Erin. Any Florida impacts?
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Here's the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center as of 11 a.m., Aug. 11: Tropical Storm Erin develops in eastern Atlantic. Expected to become hurricane Invest 97L became Tropical Storm Erin Monday morning, with the National Hurricane Center issuing its first advisory on the system at 11 a.m. Aug. 11. Forecasters are predicting Erin will continue to strengthen as it moves quickly across the Atlantic, becoming a hurricane on Wednesday, Aug. 13, and a major hurricane with 115-mph winds by Saturday, Aug. 16. NOAA hurricane tracker: See spaghetti models for Tropical Storm Erin Special note about spaghetti models: Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts. ➤ Track Tropical Storm Erin What tropical waves, disturbances are in Atlantic basin now? How likely are they to strengthen? Invest 96L: A weak trough of low pressure located over the central Atlantic is only producing limited shower and thunderstorm activity. Significant development of this system is becoming unlikely over the next few days as the system drifts generally northward, remaining over the central Atlantic. Formation chance through 48 hours: low, 10 percent. Formation chance through seven days: low, 10 percent. Area of low pressure: A non-tropical area of low pressure is currently located a few hundred miles to the south-southeast of Nova Scotia, Canada. While current shower and thunderstorm activity with the system is limited, this system is drifting over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream where some tropical or subtropical development could occur over the next day or two. By the middle of this week, the system is expected to move northward over cooler waters, ending its changes for further tropical development. Formation chance through 48 hours: low, 10 percent. 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Tropical Storm Erin forms, expected to become major hurricane by weekend. See Florida impact
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