2 deaths blamed on flooding as atmospheric river soaks Pacific Northwest
The heavy rain that brought deadly flooding and landslides to the Pacific Northwest will head slightly south on Wednesday, forecasters say.
At least two people died in Oregon, likely due to the flooding, this week, the Associated Press reported. Two bodies were recovered in creeks and authorities were still investigating the deaths, but drowning was the likely cause.
A robust atmospheric river halted rail service between Seattle and Portland on Tuesday and caused many schools and roads to shut down in Washington and Oregon. Flood watches, warnings and advisories were in effect along the western coastline, central and eastern Washington and Oregon, as well as portions of northern Idaho and far northwest Montana.
Most of the precipitation will decrease Wednesday night going into Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.
AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alyson Hoegg said the heaviest and steadiest rain will shift from the Portland, Oregon, area to western portions of the state including Salem and Eugene. Eventually northern California will see rainfall, mainly from San Francisco to Monterey Bay.
"That is a concern that we do have when you get out into Oregon in the northern portion of California," Hoegg told USA TODAY. "It could be enough rain to cause some flooding, mainly in poor drainage type areas."
Portions of northern Idaho and far northwest Montana will continue to see similar steady rain Wednesday, which has not been as heavy compared to the Pacific Northwest.
Oregon weather map
Snow across the central Appalachians ending Wednesday
Snow showers in portions of New York down through Pennsylvania into portions of West Virginia and North Carolina will come to an end early Wednesday morning, Hoegg said.
"It's not going to be an all-day event. Any steadier snow should be in the morning," Hoegg said.
Winter weather advisories were issued for portions of the Allegheny Range in western Maryland and West Virginia, which was forecast to receive at least 3 inches of snowfall, the weather service reported.
West Virginia weather map
Warming trend continues across the Great Plains through midweek
The weather service predicted daily highs will be in the 60s across the central U.S. on Wednesday and Thursday.
The temperatures are 20 degrees warmer than the seasonal average and daily high temperature records could be tied or broken from Nebraska to Wisconsin on Thursday.
Contributing: The Associated Press
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Wednesday forecast: Heavy rain in Pacific Northwest heads south
