Atmospheric River Pummels Pacific Northwest with Heavy Rain and Snow

As of November 1st, 2025, an atmospheric river event is pummeling the Pacific Northwest, triggering warnings from the National Weather Service (NWS) for heavy precipitation and strong winds across several states. The NWS reports that the region will see the heaviest rainfall and snowfall in the country as the atmospheric river and a cold front move onshore.

Atmospheric rivers are long, narrow bands in the atmosphere that transport large amounts of water vapor, often leading to intense storms. These weather events can bring beneficial snow that helps replenish reservoirs, but they can also cause deadly flooding, mudslides, and widespread power outages. The current atmospheric river is expected to continue impacting the region throughout the day on Saturday, tapering off on Sunday.

However, the NWS warns that additional systems are expected to move in later on Monday, meaning the unsettled weather pattern will persist in the coming days. Residents of the affected states, including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana, are advised to prepare for the ongoing storm system and the potential for future events in the near future.