Major changes to national weather service is happening after hundreds of weather forecasters and other federal NOAA employees were fired.
A powerful storm system is bearing down on the Pacific Northwest, bringing high winds, heavy rainfall, and hazardous surf conditions across Washington and Oregon, meteorologists warned on Monday, Feb.
An atmospheric river of moisture is expected to enter portions of western Montana on Saturday night and linger for several days.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists and other employees in Seattle are among the estimated 880 agency staff fired Thursday across the U.S., according to Sen. Maria Cantwell’s office and union representatives.
“While atmospheric rivers can vary greatly in size and strength, the average atmospheric river carries an amount of water vapor roughly equivalent to the average flow of water at the mouth of the Mississippi River,” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says.
An atmospheric river of moisture is bringing rain and wind to the Pacific Northwest starting late Friday night. The National Weather Service estimates nearly 2 inches of precipitation could hit the Rose City between 4 a.m. Saturday and 4 a.m. Tuesday, with some spots along the Oregon Coast nearing 4 inches.