Daylight Saving Time (DST) ends Sunday, November 2, and clocks will fall back one hour. Subsequently, 4 p.m. sunsets begin next week.

Say goodbye to 5 p.m. sunsets

The sun will set at 5:53 p.m. on Saturday and then at 4:51 p.m. on Sunday, according to Sunrise Sunset’s website.

Daylight will continue to slowly crawl back each day, with the sun setting at 4:22 p.m. on November 30.

Sunsets won’t return to 5 p.m. until January 24.

Daylight Saving Time ends

When clocks fall back on Sunday, The Associated Press recommends people get out into the morning sun to help their body’s clock reset.

Standard time resets at 2 a.m., so people will either want to set their clocks an hour back before bed or as soon as they wake up.

Clocks will then “spring forward” on March 8 and DST will return.

The American Medical Association and American Academy of Sleep Medicine, among other health organizations, have pushed for standard time year-round, according to The AP.

Research from Stanford University found switching back and forth is bad for health, as organs, the immune system, and metabolism can be disrupted.

“The best way to think about it is as if the central clock were like a conductor of an orchestra and each of the organs were a different instrument,” Jamie Zeitzer, co-director of Stanford’s Center for Sleep and Circadian Sciences, said, The AP reported.

It’s better to have more light in the morning and less at night to keep the natural rhythm, Zeitzer added.

History of Daylight Saving Time

So why have Daylight Saving Time in the first place?

Contrary to popular belief, Benjamin Franklin didn’t invent it. The idea actually came from George Hudson, a New Zealand entomologist, in 1895. Hudson proposed the time change to give himself more daylight hours to study insects, KIRO host John Curley explained.

“He studied bugs, and he wanted more time to look at bugs during the daylight. That’s why he came up with it,” Curley said on “The John Curley Show” on KIRO Newsradio.

While DST was originally adopted to conserve energy, studies have shown it doesn’t significantly reduce energy consumption.

“It doesn’t actually do anything to save energy because people use more AC in the summer,” Curley said.

Farmers have historically opposed DST because it disrupts their schedules, particularly when it comes to feeding livestock.

“Farmers didn’t like it either, because it messed up their cows when it came to feeding time,” Curley explained.

The first widespread use of DST was during World War I by Germany, aiming to conserve fuel. The United States followed suit in 1918 under President Woodrow Wilson, but the practice was repealed after the war. It was reintroduced during World War II by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and later standardized by the Uniform Time Act of 1966 under President Lyndon B. Johnson.

“President Wilson — one of the worst — in 1918, he made it a law. Then it was repealed,” Curley said. “Then FDR relaunched it in 1942, and then LBJ made it officially the law in 196,6 and that’s why we’re stuck with daylight saving time.”

Contributing: MyNorthwest staff; The Associated Press

“It’s going to be a soaker for Halloween and trick-or-treaters,” KIRO Newsradio Meteorologist Ted Beuhner said.

He said another atmospheric river — a relatively long, narrow band of water vapor in the sky — is heading toward western Washington.

Forecast not as severe as last weekend, but could cause power outages

Beuhner does NOT expect the system to be as severe as the storm system that hit the Puget Sound region last weekend.

“This one won’t have nearly as strong winds, but it will be blustery as we go through Friday night into Saturday morning,” he said.

It could cause scattered power outages. And, again, it’ll be wet.

“It looks like the rain is going to start along the coast during the morning and up in the Olympic Peninsula and work its way into the Puget Sound area during the afternoon,” Beuhner explained.

He’s forecasting the rain to start around 3 p.m. and continue throughout the night and into Saturday morning.

The National Weather Service said, over the last 80 years, rain has occurred on Halloween 44 times. That’s about 57% of the time.

It’s a statistic anyone who grew up here experienced in real time as we watched our carefully crafted trick-or-treat bags (paper sacks resplendent with construction paper pumpkins and popsicle stick fences) disintegrate in a downpour, as we buried our costumes under raincoats.

Take heart, trick-or-treaters. You will eventually dry out, and the Snickers and Skittles will taste just as sweet.

Read more of Heather Bosch’s stories here.

Follow @http://www.twitter.com/heatherbosch

“The main threat with this system is the heavy rain, though wind gusts in the 20–35 mph range can also be expected for anyone outside as the system moves through,” KIRO 7 meteorologist Morgan Palmer said. “This will not be a repeat of last weekend’s destructive wind event, and now that trees have already been tested by stronger winds this fall, the scope of power outages is expected to be much more limited.”

While this system is expected to be much weaker than last weekend’s storm, one to three inches of rain is estimated to occur.

Washington is home to some of the most atmospheric rivers in the country, most of which occur along the Oregon coast and in the Pacific Northwest. Atmospheric rivers are relatively long, narrow regions in the atmosphere – like rivers in the sky, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – that transport most of the water vapor outside of the tropics.

The average atmospheric river carries roughly the amount of water vapor as the average flow of water at the mouth of the Mississippi River, with exceptionally strong ones transporting up to 15 times that amount.

The record for Halloween rainfall at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is 1.18 inches in 2014.

The strongest downpours should be clear by Saturday morning.

“Rainfall totals of a quarter- to a half-inch around the lowlands can be expected by early Saturday morning, with higher amounts across the northern islands, far northern sections, the coast, and the Strait,” Palmer stated.

A Winter Weather Advisory is currently in effect for the Cascades above 4,500 feet in Whatcom and Skagit counties through 11 a.m. Wednesday.

Contributing: KIRO 7

Follow Frank Sumrall on X. Send news tips here.

A pair of earthquakes hit off the Oregon coast early Wednesday morning, with one surpassing a 5.0 magnitude.

The first earthquake, a 4.8 magnitude, hit at 6:42 a.m. while the second, a 5.4 magnitude, struck at 7 a.m.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is asking people to report if they felt the quakes, with the 5.4 magnitude already getting activity on the Community Internet Intensity Map.

According to USGS, there is a 44% chance of a magnitude 3.0 aftershock in the same area.

Pacific Northwest earthquake could set off ‘the bigger one’

Meanwhile, a recent study found “the big one” in the Pacific Northwest could set off “the bigger one,” triggering California’s San Andreas fault and leading to a monumental disaster, The Guardian reported.

“If they both went off together, then you’ve got potentially San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver all in an emergency situation in a compressed timeframe,” Dr. Chris Goldfinger, the study’s lead author and a marine geologist and geophysicist, told The Guardian.

Goldfinger told Science that if the Cascadia fault zone went off, he would take that as a clear warning for the San Andreas area.

Keep up with real-time earthquake information on MyNorthwest.

Follow Julia Dallas on X. Read her stories here. Submit news tips here.

Hundreds of thousands of people in Cuba had been evacuated to shelters. A hurricane warning was in effect for Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, Holguin and Las Tunas provinces as well as the southeastern and central Bahamas.

Melissa had top sustained winds of 105 mph (165 kph) and was moving north-northeast at 14 mph (22 kph) according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. The hurricane was centered 45 miles (70 kilometers) northwest of Guantánamo, Cuba, and 205 miles (335 kilometers) south of the central Bahamas.

The agency warned that preparations for the storm in the Bahamas “should be rushed to completion.”

What to know

• A record storm for Jamaica: Melissa was a Category 5 hurricane, the highest level, when it made landfall Tuesday in Jamaica. It was the strongest to hit the island since recordkeeping began 174 years ago. Melissa caused power outages, fallen trees, landslides, and heavy flooding and tore off roofs in Jamaica.
• Other Caribbean nations at risk: The NHC warned that catastrophic flash flooding and landslides also are possible in Cuba and Hispaniola, the island which Haiti and the Dominican Republic share. Cuban officials said they were evacuating more than 700,000 people from the region, including in Santiago, the island’s second-largest city.
• Rapid strengthening linked to climate change: Climate scientists have linked warming ocean temperatures to hurricanes intensifying more quickly. Abnormally warm ocean waters of about 2 to 3 degrees Celsius (3.6 to 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit) above normal helped double Hurricane Melissa’s wind speed in less than 24 hours, scientists said. Scientists said Melissa is the fourth storm in the Atlantic this year to undergo rapid intensification.

‘Several areas are under water’

Cuban authorities said some 735,000 people remain in shelters after being evacuated from their homes in the island’s eastern region.

Yanetsy Terry Gutiérrez, governor of Granma province, one of the first areas hit by the hurricane, said Wednesday morning that “several areas of the province are underwater, with the most significant impact in the municipal capital of Jiguaní.”

Officials also reported collapsed houses, blocked mountain roads and roofs blown off. The province’s reservoirs continue to overflow after being filled by heavy rains. More than 15 inches (40 centimeters) of rain was reported in the Jiguaní settlement of Charco Redondo.

Jamaica’s Santa Cruz hit by landslide

The small town of Santa Cruz in the southern Jamaican parish of St. Elizabeth was devastated by Hurricane Melissa.

A massive landslide triggered by widespread flooding blocked the town’s main roads, and streets have been reduced to mud pits. Residents swept out gallons of water from their homes as they tried to salvage whatever was left of their belongings.

“I never see anything like this before in all my years living here,” said Jennifer Small.

Fierce winds ripped off part of the roof at St. Elizabeth Technical High School, which was designated a public shelter.

“The entire hillside came down last night,” Robert James said.

‘That was hell’

Reinaldo Charon, 52, was one of the few people who ventured out in Santiago de Cuba on Wednesday morning, covered by a plastic sheet to keep dry from the intermittent rain.

“That was hell. All night long, it was terrible,” Charon said.

David Savaree, a 44-year-old mechanic, said: “I saw (Melissa) as weaker than (Hurricane) Sandy, but we have to keep going.”

Melissa tore off roofs and uprooted trees, but the extent of the damage wasn’t immediately known.

At least one person was confirmed killed in Jamaica from the storm

A tree fell on an infant in that region, Senator Abka Fitz-Henley, a state minister in the prime minister’s office, told Nationwide News Network, a local radio station.

A total of eight deaths are now blamed on the storm, including three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic, where another person remains missing.

Fitz-Henley said most of the destruction is concentrated in Jamaica’s southwest and northwest regions.

“Take heart. It could have been worse,” he said as he acknowledged pressing needs in that area. “I know people have suffered significant devastation.”

“We are aware of the dire straits which you find yourselves in this morning. We are moving quickly.”

Meanwhile, the disaster coordinator for Jamaica’s West Moreland parish had a stroke on Tuesday while preparing for the storm and remains hospitalized, officials said.

Jamaican officials say damage is extensive

Jamaican officials told Nationwide News Network, a local radio station, that there was extensive damage in the island’s southwestern and northwestern regions, but that the total damage is still unknown.

“There’s a total communication blackout on that side,” said Richard Thompson, acting director general of Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management.

Scientists explain why Melissa is a beast among a string of monster Atlantic storms

Melissa was a beast that stood out as extreme even in a record number of monster storms spawned over the last decade in a superheated Atlantic Ocean.

Melissa somehow shook off at least three different meteorological conditions that normally weaken major hurricanes and was still gaining power as it hit, scientists said, a bit amazed.

And while more storms these days are undergoing rapid intensification — gaining 35 mph in wind speed over 24 hours — Melissa did a lot more than that. It achieved what’s called extreme rapid intensification — gaining at least 58 mph over 24 hours. In fact, Melissa turbocharged by about 70 mph during a 24-hour period last week, and had an unusual second round of rapid intensification that spun it up to 175 mph, scientists said.

“It’s been a remarkable, just a beast of a storm,” Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach said.

Storm struck Jamaica on Tuesday with top sustained winds of 185 mph (295 kph) before weakening over land

Officials in Jamaica were assessing the damage. More than half a million customers were without power late Tuesday as officials reported that most of the island had downed trees, power lines and extensive flooding.

Extensive damage was reported in parts of Clarendon in the south and in the southwestern parish of St. Elizabeth, which was “under water,” said Desmond McKenzie, deputy chairman of Jamaica’s Disaster Risk Management Council.

The storm damaged four hospitals and left one without power, forcing officials to evacuate 75 patients, McKenzie said.

The government said it hopes to reopen all of Jamaica’s airports as early as Thursday to ensure quick distribution of emergency relief supplies.

The storm was already blamed for seven deaths in the Caribbean, including three in Jamaica, three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic, where another person remains missing.

Hurricane Melissa churns across Cuba as a Category 3 storm

Hurricane Melissa was grinding across Cuba on Wednesday as a Category 3 storm after pummeling Jamaica as one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Hundreds of thousands of people in Cuba had been evacuated to shelters. A hurricane warning was in effect for Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, Holguin and Las Tunas provinces as well as the southeastern and central Bahamas.

Melissa had top sustained winds of 105 mph (165 kph) and was moving north-northeast at 14 mph (22 kph) according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. The hurricane was centered 45 miles (70 kilometers) northwest of Guantánamo, Cuba, and 205 miles (335 kilometers) south of the central Bahamas.

The agency warned that preparations for the storm in the Bahamas “should be rushed to completion.”

Blocked roads and severe flooding seen across Jamaica

Desmond McKenzie, deputy chairman of Jamaica’s Disaster Risk Management Council, noted that extensive damage was reported in the southwestern parish of St. Elizabeth, which he said “is under water.”

He said severe damage also was reported in parts of Clarendon in southern Jamaica.

Almost every parish in the country is experiencing blocked roads, fallen trees, damaged utility poles and excessive flooding, McKenzie said.

He said four main hospitals are damaged, with the storm knocking out power to one of them, forcing officials to evacuate 75 patients.

At least 3 families trapped and unable to be rescued until conditions improve, officials say

Floodwaters trapped at least three families in their homes in the community of Black River in western Jamaica, and crews were unable to help them because of dangerous weather conditions, said Desmond McKenzie, deputy chairman of Jamaica’s Disaster Risk Management Council.

“Roofs were flying off,” he said. “We are hoping and praying that the situation will ease so that some attempt can be made to get to those persons.”

McKenzie said there are no confirmed reports of deaths and stressed that it was too early to talk about the extent of the damage because the storm was still pummeling the island.

Miami Heat donates $1 million to help with recovery efforts

The Miami Heat has donated $1 million to the humanitarian organization Direct Relief to assist with Hurricane Melissa recovery efforts, according to an NBA statement.

The donation is being made in partnership with the Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation and Carnival Corporation & plc. The three organizations have given more than $17 million to Direct Relief’s crisis response since 2013.

“In Florida, we are all too familiar with the widespread devastation caused by a Category 5 storm,” Eric Woolworth, president of The Heat Group’s business operations, said in a statement. “Direct Relief provides life-saving and ongoing assistance, which is so critical as residents begin the long road to rebuilding their communities.

”Direct Relief will help sustain healthcare access after the storm and support Jamaica health facilities, many of which are in coastal and low-lying areas, a spokesperson for the nonprofit told The Associated Press. It is also prepositioning medical supplies for Cuba.

Hurricane Melissa is among the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes on record

Hurricane Melissa is now among the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes on record.

The monster storm strengthened Tuesday before hitting Jamaica, bringing with it maximum sustained winds of 185 mph (295 kph). It’s the strongest Atlantic hurricane to make landfall since Hurricane Dorian battered the Bahamas in 2019.

Here’s a look at the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record:

Hurricane Allen

The most powerful Atlantic storm in terms of wind speed, Hurricane Allen killed more than 200 people in Haiti before swooping into Texas in 1980. It’s highest sustained winds reached 190 mph (305 kph) but slowed before it hit land.

Hurricane Melissa

The storm came ashore Tuesday in Jamaica as one the strongest Atlantic hurricanes in history. Its 185 mph (295 kph) sustained winds tied a record for the strongest speeds by an Atlantic storm while making landfall.

Hurricane Dorian

The most intense hurricane to hit the Bahamas on record, more than 70 people died in the 2019 storm that packed 185 mph (295 kph) winds.

Hurricane Wilma

This 2005 storm rapidly intensified, with winds topping out around 185 mph (295 kph). It slammed into Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula before hitting South Florida, where it carved a wide path of destruction.

Hurricane Gilbert

Hurricane Gilbert first made landfall in Jamaica and tore through the Caribbean in 1988 before slamming into Mexico, where 200 people died. At its peak, winds reached 185 mph (295 kph).

Labor Day hurricane

This unnamed storm in 1935 remains one of the most powerful hurricanes to hit the U.S. It devastated the Florida Keys and left damage along the Atlantic Coast. Its winds were measured at 185 mph (295 kph).

Hurricane Milton

Weeks after Hurricane Helene, this storm tore up the Gulf Coast of Florida last October and swept across the state. Warm water fueled its rapid intensification as its winds briefly reached 180 mph (290 kph).

Hurricane Irma

The storm packing winds of 180 mph (290 kph) caused more than an estimated $700 million in damage across Puerto Rico and knocked power out to more than a million people in 2017.

Hurricane Rita

Weeks after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, this storm with winds reaching 180 mph (290 kph) ripped through southwestern Louisiana. It caused more than $11 billion in damage.

Hurricane Mitch

The catastrophic storm in 1998 set off mudslides and floods that left more than 11,000 dead, mostly in Honduras and Nicaragua. The hurricane hit the coast of Central America with winds at 180 mph.

There will be a Puget Sound convergence zone that sets up across the Seattle-Everett corridor into the daybreak hours, extending east into the Cascades. This will fade through the morning.

In the passes, we’re seeing mainly rain at Stevens Pass and just rain at Snoqualmie Pass, though a Winter Weather Advisory for the North Cascades runs until 11 am for 4-8″ of snow above 4,500 feet.

• Follow this link to read additional stories from KIRO 7

We’ll dry things out Wednesday morning before daybreak and the weather will be more tranquil through Thursday as all eyes will be on another atmospheric river to impact the area with widespread rain just in time for Halloween.

That system for Friday and Saturday will not be quite as strong as the system that brought heavy rain this past Friday, and also high winds aren’t expected, however the rain will be impactful for our area.

The current forecast data suggest increasing rain across the coast and north of Everett through the afternoon on Friday with rain increasing elsewhere Friday night.

It is possible that the rain will be delayed a few hours for parts of the area — especially the central and south Sound. So it is possible that trick-or-treaters for early Friday night Halloween fun might avoid a full-on soaking from the Seattle area south, but kids’ costumes need to be rainproofed just in case!

Across the North Sound and northwest through the Strait and the coast, heavy rain for trick-or-treat time looks more likely.

It will be breezy with wind gusts in the 20-30 mph range Friday evening into Saturday, so not qualifying as a major wind event, though it definitely will be blustery and soggy.

Drivers will need to be very careful on a dark, rainy Halloween night and be extra vigilant for trick-or-treaters that might be dashing through the rain.

Rain will taper on Saturday and we could wind up with some drier times late next weekend.

Tuesday will be mainly dry through early to mid-afternoon, and we will be getting another weather system moving in at the coast with rainfall by late in the day.

Inland around the Sound, a few showers will move in by the evening drive on Tuesday, but rain will increase in the evening through the overnight.

• Follow this link to read additional stories from KIRO 7

It will also get a little breezy with wind gusts in the 20-30 mph range, except a little stronger at the north coast and the islands, peaking early in the overnight. At the passes, expect rain to fall.

We’ll dry things out on Wednesday morning, and the weather will be more tranquil through Thursday as all eyes will be on another atmospheric river to impact the area with widespread rain just in time for Halloween.

That system for Friday and Saturday will not be quite as strong as the system that brought heavy rain this past Friday, and high winds aren’t expected; however, it will be impactful for our area.

The current forecast data suggests increasing rain across the coast and north of Everett through the afternoon on Friday, with rain increasing elsewhere Friday night.

The rain may be delayed a few hours for parts of the area, especially the central and south Sound. So it is possible that trick-or-treaters for Friday night Halloween fun might avoid the soaking, but kids’ costumes need to be rainproofed just in case!

• Follow this link to read additional stories from KIRO 7

It will be breezy with wind gusts in the 20-35 mph range Friday evening into Saturday, not qualifying as a major wind event, though it definitely will be blustery and soggy.

Drivers will need to be very careful on a dark, rainy Halloween night and be extra vigilant for trick-or-treaters that might be dashing through the rain.

Rain will taper on Saturday, and we could wind up with some drier times late next weekend.

The Halloween atmospheric river has yet to fully evolve as it is many days out, but we will be refining the forecast for the location and timing of the heaviest rain through the week, as well as any impacts from gusty winds.

Meteorologist Ted Buehner of KIRO News Radio says this won’t be a major storm, but it marks the first significant stretch of stormy weather this season. By Friday night, some areas of western Washington could see one to two inches of rain, while coastal and mountain regions may pick up two to four inches.

Rain, gusty winds, and mountain snow set for this weekend

Another system is expected to arrive Saturday, bringing cooler, unsettled air and more showers. High temperatures will struggle to reach 50 degrees across the region.

In the mountains, snow levels are predicted to drop to around 3,000 feet, with accumulation at higher passes including Stevens, White, and Blewett. While lowland snow isn’t expected, strong winds could pose a challenge. Gusts along the coast and from Everett to the Canadian border could reach 50 mph, while other areas may see winds of 15 to 25 mph.

Buehner warns that these conditions could bring down leaves and possibly cause isolated power outages. With the risk of urban flooding, residents should keep storm drains clear, and drivers should watch for water over roadways.

Read more of Heather Bosch’s stories here.

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Impressive Looking Atmospheric River

The incoming weather system has sub-tropical moisture embedded in it, which tracks all the way across the Pacific to near Taiwan.

NOAA weather satellite image across the north Pacific that highlights the long stream of sub-tropical moisture extending well into the western Pacific that will accompany the wet and windy storm late Thursday into Friday. (Photo courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

In addition, this system is being driven by the season’s strongest jet stream thus far this season. Up around 30,000 feet, where commercial jets fly, the jet stream has westerly winds of 150 to 200 mph.

Much Needed Rain

As this system swings onshore, rain will spread inland from the coast late Thursday into Friday. Rain amounts through Friday night will range from two to four inches along the coast and in the mountains, and one to two inches elsewhere in western Washington. These rain amounts will help with the current dry conditions.

The rain will likely be heavy at times, resulting in local ponding of water on roadways, creating the potential for hydroplaning. Motorists should take it easy, slow down, and give plenty of room behind the vehicle in front.

In the mountains, snow levels will be relatively high, above 6,000 feet, through Friday. Given that rivers and streams all have relatively low stream flows, no river flooding is anticipated.

Winds

Strong southerly winds are anticipated to develop ahead of this weather system on Thursday, reaching 25 to 40 mph with gusts to 50 mph overnight along the coast and from Whidbey and Camano Island northward to the Canadian border. Winds elsewhere are expected to be about 15 to 25 mph. Local power outages are possible and something to prepare for in advance.

Storm Drains

The blustery winds will likely knock down leaves from the region’s trees. Combined with the rain, storm drains are likely to accumulate leaves in the rain runoff, potentially clogging the drains and producing water backups on roadways. Local utilities ask residents to help clear storm drains of leaves during this stormy weather.

Falling Mountain Snow Levels This Weekend

This weather system will continue inland on Friday night. Yet another following weather system is forecast to develop off the coast Saturday, producing another bout of wet and windy weather.

This system will also track inland and be followed by a much cooler unstable air mass for showers. By Sunday, mountain snow levels are expected to fall to their lowest levels of the season thus far, close to 3,000 feet. Snow amounts are forecast to range from eight to 18 inches of fresh snow.

Higher mountain passes like Rainy Pass, Stevens Pass, Blewett Pass, White Pass, and Chinook and Cayuse Passes likely get their first significant accumulating snow on and approaching the passes. Motorists need to be prepared for winter weather driving conditions. Snoqualmie Pass, at nearly 3,000 feet, is not likely to have snow collect on I-90, yet it will likely see snowflakes in the air at times.

The rest of western Washington can expect a mix of showers and sunbreaks Sunday, with cool daytime temperatures only in the 50s and overnight lows in the 40s.

Looking Ahead

During the final week of the month, more Pacific weather systems are expected to track onshore with more rain at times. For those planning for trick-or-treaters, conditions appear to be wet. High temperatures during the week will remain rather cool, only in the 50s.

The latest longer-range outlook into early November offers some warming, but with wetter-than-average conditions. Yes, active fall weather is here.

Ted Buehner is the KIRO Newsradio meteorologist. Follow him on X and Bluesky. Read more of his stories here.

Wednesday’s forecast calls for various areas of fog before 11 a.m., partly sunny skies towards the end of the day, and a 50% chance of rain after 5 p.m., the National Weather Service (NWS) announced.

Temperatures will reach as high as 64 degrees in parts of Seattle, and a low of 52 degrees at night. NWS also forecasted light winds from the south at 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

The Washington State Department of Transportation advised drivers of the following commuting practices for staying safe on the road through the fog:

• Turn on headlights and fog lights
• Increase following distances
• Slow down
• Remove distractions
• Eyes on the road
• Plan extra time for commutes
• Drive cautiously

Potential atmospheric river towards the weekend

NWS is warning of a potential atmospheric river west of the Cascades starting Wednesday through the weekend.

The Climate Prediction Center indicates a moderate (40-60%) risk of heavy rain, high winds, and heavy mountain snow from Oct. 23-27. However, it could start as early as Wednesday.

“Heavy rainfall will have the potential to produce flooding west of the Cascades in Washington and Oregon,” NWS stated in a news release. “However, confidence in the extent and severity of any flooding remains low at this time.”

High winds are expected to be most prominent along the Pacific Coast of Washington and Oregon, but are not expected to be felt anywhere else in western Washington.

Contributing: Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest

Follow Jason Sutich on X. Send news tips here.

A healthy Pacific weather system is swinging through western Washington over the weekend. Rain started along the coast Saturday afternoon, with the bulk of it falling overnight Saturday.

Blustery winds also accompanied the weather system late Saturday and into early Sunday. Along the coast and the north interior from about Everett northward, southerly winds of 20 to 35 mph are expected. Given that many trees still have leaves, there is the potential for fallen limbs and isolated power outages.

Winds for the rest of the western interior, including the Seattle and Tacoma areas, are forecast in the 15 to 25 mph range overnight Saturday.

Sunday

The weather system will head further inland Sunday, leaving behind showers with sunbreaks and decreasing winds to be the rule in western Washington. The only exception will be blustery westerly winds blowing from the west through the Strait of Juan de Fuca into the Whidbey Island area.

Temperatures and total rain amounts

High temperatures over the weekend are expected to be cooler than average, only in the 50s. Nighttime readings, though, will be milder than the chilly conditions earlier this week, primarily falling into the 40s.

Total rain amounts through much of the western interior will range from a third to six-tenths of an inch. Along the coast and in the mountains, one to two inches of precipitation is anticipated.

Mountains

If heading into the mountains, snow levels will be relatively high on Saturday, around the 7,500-foot mark. However, as the weather system plows inland, snow levels will fall to around 4,500 feet on Sunday. Be prepared for the dramatic change in weather conditions this weekend.

Next week

Looking ahead to next week, the Sunday showers are expected to taper off on Monday with periods of sunshine. After that, a parade of Pacific weather systems is forecast to march onshore with periods of rain through much of the week. After all, it is typical fall weather.

Ted Buehner is the KIRO Newsradio meteorologist. Follow him on X and Bluesky. Read more of his stories here.

The National Weather Service (NWS) Seattle is warning of a potential atmospheric river west of the Cascades starting in the middle of next week.

Potential atmospheric river could start next week

The Climate Prediction Center indicates a moderate (40-60%) risk of heavy rain, high winds, and heavy mountain snow from Oct. 23-27. However, it could start as early as Oct. 22.

High winds are expected to be most prominent along the Pacific Coast of Washington and Oregon, but are not expected to be felt anywhere else in western Washington.

“Heavy rainfall will have the potential to produce flooding west of the Cascades in Washington and Oregon,” NWS stated in a news release. “However, confidence in the extent and severity of any flooding remains low at this time.”

Western WA weekend weather predictions

As for this weekend, NWS is predicting a brief round of heavy rain and gusty winds.

Although the strength of the fall system has weakened slightly, and river flooding is unlikely, the weather service still recommended monitoring sensitive rivers, creeks, and burn scars.

Friday night is forecast to be partly cloudy, with a low around 45 degrees, accompanied by light winds.

There is a 50% chance of rain on Saturday, mainly after 11 a.m. The high will be near 57 degrees. The chance of rain will increase to 100% on Saturday night, with a low of 50 degrees.

Sunday will have showers with a high near 58 degrees. Sunday night will also be rainy and mostly cloudy, with a low around 49 degrees.

Snow possible in the mountains

With avid skiers and snowboarders itching to get out again, NWS stated that heavy mountain snow is possible at high elevations in the Cascades. Though it’s still too early to determine exact snow levels, the weather service noted that atmospheric river conditions often result in snow levels rising above the mountain passes.

Crystal Mountain Resort is projected to open on Nov. 28, while Stevens Pass’ opening date is scheduled for Dec. 5, according to The Seattle Times.

Follow Julia Dallas on X. Read her stories here. Submit news tips here.

The roof is scheduled to remain open over T-Mobile Park on Thursday, according to KIRO 7 Meteorologist Robert Van Winkle, with rain-free conditions expected for the duration of the Seattle Mariners game. A weak front is expected to move through late Thursday night, accompanied by a few showers scattered throughout, continuing into Friday morning.

Still, even without rain, expect brisk conditions. Thursday’s high failed to hit 60 degrees.

Friday is on schedule to be mostly dry, but once the weekend arrives, so does the rain.

12 of next 13 days to have some rain

Starting Saturday, 12 of the next 13 days are predicted to receive some level of rain. Eight days boast a more than 50% chance of rain, according to The Weather Channel.

Weather Underground predicts nearly 1.75 inches of rain from Saturday, Oct. 18, through Saturday, Oct. 25.

The heaviest bouts of rain are expected to take place from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 18), 6 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 23) through 6 a.m. Friday (Oct. 24), and all day Saturday (Oct. 25).

First thunder-and-hailstorm of fall strikes Seattle

Buckets of rain hit Seattle and other neighboring cities in the Puget Sound region Sunday afternoon, followed by a hailstorm accompanied by thunder and lightning. 

Just after 4:30 p.m. last Sunday, Oct. 12, hail briefly covered many major thoroughfares and streets in the city before the consistent downpour of rain washed it away.

Thunder continued for the following few hours.

It is the first such storm to hit Seattle this fall. Moderate to heavy rain lasted through 8 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

Washington’s dry 2025

The onslaught of rain will hopefully mitigate the damage an abnormally dry year had on Washington.

With the exception of March, the winter and spring months had well below-average rainfall for the year heading into summer. The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) was nearly five inches below normal for the year through May.

That dry trend continued through much of the summer. Only August had more than the usual rainfall for the month by just more than a tenth of an inch. By the end of September, SEA had finished more than seven inches of rain below average for its annual precipitation thus far.

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Those who already have and can register include families, businesses, schools, health care facilities, faith-based organizations, neighborhood groups, and more.

The Great Shakeout is not just a Washington event, but a worldwide event. Millions around the globe will participate by practicing the “drop, cover, and hold” technique under a desk, table, or other sturdy items in case of an earthquake. In recent years, many have had fun at work, school, or elsewhere by taking photos and videos while under a table or desk and posting them on social media.

Where to hear the Great Shakeout

The drill will kick off when the Emergency Alert System (EAS) is activated at 10:16 a.m. Thursday on the National Weather Service’s NOAA Weather Radio network statewide, and aired by all radio and TV broadcasters and cable systems, and that includes KIRO Newsradio, Seattle Sports, and Seattle Red.

Recent smaller earthquakes around Vancouver Island and across western Washington serve as reminders that Washington is earthquake country, the second-most threatened state in the nation behind California. There are many earthquake faults around the region, including the Tacoma fault, the Seattle fault, and the South Whidbey Island fault, which geological history has shown can all produce 7.0 magnitude quakes or greater.

Then there is the Cascadia Subduction Zone, approximately 100 miles off the coast, that stretches from northern Vancouver Island to northern California. The last time that the earthquake zone “let go” was on January 26, 1700, with an estimated 9.0 magnitude tremor. Shaking lasted for up to 5 minutes and generated a Pacific-wide tsunami, with tsunami waves inundating coastal regions and extending into western Washington’s interior waters.

Geologists indicate this earthquake source releases pressure about every 300 to 500 years, meaning it could occur at any time now. This subduction zone is similar to others around the Pacific Ocean basin, including the one off the coast of Japan, which produced a major earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, and another recently off eastern Russia.

“People living on or visiting the coastal areas where we have tsunami sirens should know that as close to 10:16 a.m. as possible, we will be testing the sirens with the full wailing capability. This is supposed to happen, so do not call 911,” Hollie Stark of Washington State Emergency Management said.

There are more than 100 outdoor siren systems along the outer coast, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and in the North Sound region, including Anacortes, Edmonds, and the Everett waterfront.

Potential tsunamis after an earthquake

When a big earthquake occurs, it is also essential to know if you are in a low-lying coastal tsunami inundation hazard zone. Ground shaking may be the only warning before tsunami waves arrive. Knowing in advance evacuation routes and where to move to higher ground, including vertical evacuation in multi-story buildings or towers, is imperative. Many outer Washington coastal schools will also practice their tsunami evacuation plans following the earthquake drill.

“Earthquakes have happened here in the past, and they will happen again,” Stark said. “If you only think about earthquake protective actions once a year, ShakeOut is the time to do it, while we are not in an actual emergency. Plus, you can make your drill fun!”

Stark noted, “If you ask yourself this question, we hope it helps you think of some steps you can take right now to make your home, work, and life a bit safer from earthquakes.”

Earthquakes are no-notice events. Also, use the Shakealert app for quakes that are further away and offer a short time to prepare.

This year’s Great Shakeout earthquake drill also focuses on being prepared and safe wherever you may be at the time an earthquake occurs.

For instance, people spend about a third of their lives asleep. If you are in bed, stay there and cover your head with a pillow until the shaking stops. Have a pair of hard-soled shoes under the bed to put on after the quake. Many injuries occur when walking in the dark with bare feet. Also consider a flashlight, gloves, light sticks, and even a hard hat under your bed. Here is a helpful short video on earthquake safety while in bed.

Daily lives also occur at work, school, shopping, or while traveling. Schools use this event as their October monthly emergency drill.

What to do when an earthquake strikes

It is crucial to consider earthquake safety actions wherever you may be when a quake strikes. Communication with loved ones and work staff is also important. Phone systems will likely be overwhelmed in the wake of an earthquake.

A graphic indicating what to do when an earthquake strikes. (Photo courtesy of Washington State Emergency Management)

Having a backup communication plan can be critical. The Great Shakeout drill offers the chance to practice your backup communication plan. Know in advance how and who to reach in case phone and power systems go out of service, which will be quite likely.

Stark added, following the Great Shakeout drill, “Do a home hazard hunt. Check with your students and their schools’ reunification plans, sign up for local alerts, and learn more about earthquake early warning at mil.wa.gov/alerts.”

To register for the Great Shakeout Washington and learn more information about this annual earthquake drill and how to better prepare your home, workplace, school, and more for earthquakes, visit ShakeOut.org. Thursday morning’s Great Shakeout drill will offer the opportunity to practice dropping, covering, and holding on under a sturdy structure for a minute, and have fun doing it!

As Stark highlighted, “Remember! You can survive, if you get prepared!” Register today at shakeout.org/washington

Ted Buehner is the KIRO Newsradio meteorologist. Follow him on X and Bluesky. Read more of his stories here.

The National Weather Service Portland stated, via Facebook, that the wind event may have been a tornado.

It is asking for any photos or videos that show clear signs of a rotation of a tornado in the 500 block of 14th Avenue.

Four commercial buildings were damaged, with one suffering a collapsed roof, the Longview Fire Department reported via Facebook.

“Damage assessments indicate that one building suffered a complete loss of its roof, with roofing materials and debris carried by the wind striking a nearby structure and causing severe damage to its roof,” the fire department wrote. “Two additional commercial buildings in the same block experienced light roof damage from the wind.”

The fire department posted a video of the wind event, showing a building’s roof being torn off.

Cowlitz County PUD is surveying the electrical service to the area, including potentially damaged poles or utility lines.

Despite the buildings being occupied at the time, no injuries have been reported.

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A torrential downpour of rain and hail struck several Seattle neighborhoods and surrounding areas Sunday afternoon, followed by multiple hours of thunder and lightning strikes. However, less than a day later, by early Monday afternoon, the sun came out and will remain so over the next few days.

Temperatures remain cool, hovering around the mid-50s from Monday to Wednesday. A Wind Advisory was also triggered Monday afternoon in western Whatcom County and the San Juan Islands.

The sunny, yet cool, conditions will persist throughout the Puget Sound region through Wednesday, with no day expected to exceed a 6% chance of rain. Clouds will invade the skyline by Thursday, but periods of cool sunshine will still occur throughout the workweek. By the weekend, rain is expected to return.

When will it rain next?

Rain is expected to arrive late Thursday night, with a chance to continue into early Friday morning. By Saturday, heavier rain will be in full force in the afternoon. Starting this upcoming Sunday, six of the next nine days have a 60% or more chance of rain, according to The Weather Channel.

First thunder-and-hailstorm of fall strikes Seattle

Buckets of rain hit Seattle and other neighboring cities in the Puget Sound region Sunday afternoon, followed by a hailstorm accompanied by thunder and lightning. 

Just after 4:30 p.m. Sunday, hail briefly covered many major thoroughfares and streets in the city before the consistent downpour of rain washed it away.

Thunder continued for the following few hours.

It is the first such storm to hit Seattle this fall. Moderate to heavy rain lasted through 8 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

Washington’s dry 2025

The onslaught of rain will hopefully mitigate the damage an abnormally dry year had on Washington.

With the exception of March, the winter and spring months had well below-average rainfall for the year heading into summer. The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) was nearly five inches below normal for the year through May.

That dry trend continued through much of the summer. Only August had more than the usual rainfall for the month by just more than a tenth of an inch. By the end of September, SEA had finished more than seven inches of rain below average for its annual precipitation thus far.

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According to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), the pass was closed by 6:30 a.m. Monday, with WSDOT citing snowfall, disabled semi-trucks, and collisions as reasons for the closure.

US 97 is closed both directions at MP 164 the summit of Blewett Pass due to heavy snowfall, disabled semis and collisions. There is no estimated time for reopening.

— WSDOT East (@WSDOT_East) October 13, 2025

The Washington State Patrol (WSP) reported that multiple disabled semis are currently blocking the roadway.

Blewett pass is closed both directions due to multiple disabled semi’s blocking due to snow conditions.

— District 6 PIO (@wspd6pio) October 13, 2025

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Just after 4:30 p.m. Sunday, hail briefly covered many major thoroughfares and streets in the city before the consistent downpour of rain washed it away.

Thunder continued for the following few hours.

It is the first such storm to hit Seattle this fall. Moderate to heavy rain lasted through 8 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

Weather forecast as fall settles in

Seattle and surrounding areas have been experiencing rain since Thursday, with highs hovering in the low 60s. This upcoming week may feature a break in the rain, but the stormy weather returns the following weekend.

While the upcoming week’s high is only 63, expect plenty of sunshine Tuesday and Wednesday before cloudy conditions take over in the back half of the week.

Washington’s dry 2025

The onslaught of rain will hopefully mitigate the damage an abnormally dry year had on Washington.

With the exception of March, the winter and spring months had well below-average rainfall for the year heading into summer. The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) was nearly five inches below normal for the year through May.

That dry trend continued through much of the summer. Only August had more than the usual rainfall for the month by just more than a tenth of an inch. By the end of September, SEA had finished more than seven inches of rain below average for its annual precipitation thus far.

First snow in the mountains

The turn to autumnal weather also means that, at 5,000 feet in elevation, the first snow of the year will begin in the mountains, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

Stevens Pass and the North Cascades are expected to receive some snow, potentially three to six inches at 5,000 feet, starting this weekend. Snoqualmie Pass can also expect to see some snow.

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A new study found “the big one” could set off “the bigger one,” triggering California’s San Andreas fault and leading to a monumental disaster, The Guardian reported Thursday.

“If they both went off together, then you’ve got potentially San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver all in an emergency situation in a compressed timeframe,” Dr. Chris Goldfinger, the study’s lead author and a marine geologist and geophysicist, told The Guardian.

Goldfinger told Science that if the Cascadia fault zone went off, he would take that as a clear warning for San Andreas.

He explained the two fault zones run for more than 1,000 kilometers along the Pacific coast, but they create earthquakes differently.

His team looked at around 100 sediment cores drilled near the Triple Junction, where both the Cascadia and San Andreas fault zones end.

Their breakthrough was discovering that a recurring “upside down” pattern was actually the result of two earthquakes occurring within minutes of each other, not just one.

The study is evidence that the two faults do interact, Amanda Thomas, a geophysicist at the University of California Davis, told Science. The knowledge could help California better prepare for a major earthquake if one strikes in Washington.

Pacific Northwest earthquake, ‘the big one,’ could create tsunami

A magnitude 9 earthquake in the Pacific Northwest has the potential to produce a tsunami wave of up to 80 feet, knocking out coastal communities within 30 minutes, according to The Guardian.

“Our preparedness level is poor,” Goldfinger told the media outlet. “We have a long way to go, and all these areas were built on top of ticking time bombs.”

Ben Deci, the senior media officer for the California Earthquake Authority, recommended getting earthquake insurance, strengthening homes, and remembering to drop, cover, and hold on when shaking starts.

Use MyNorthwest’s Earthquake Tracker to stay updated in real-time.

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Thursday through Sunday all feature days with a more than 50% chance of rain in Seattle and surrounding areas, according to The Weather Channel. Highs for that stretch of days do not surpass 60 degrees. The following work week may feature a break in the rain, but the stormy weather returns Sunday, Oct. 19.

The turn the weather is having in the second half of the week is quite a pivot from Monday and Tuesday’s weather in Seattle, which featured highs of nearly 70 with sunny skies. Tuesday may very well be the last 70-degree day in Seattle for the year. The likelihood of a 70-degree day rapidly drops once the first 10 days of October have passed, according to Brian MacMillan, the chief meteorologist at FOX 13 Seattle.

The onslaught of rain will hopefully mitigate the damage an abnormally dry year had on Washington.

With the exception of March, the winter and spring months had well below-average rainfall for the year heading into summer. The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) was nearly five inches below normal for the year through May.

That dry trend continued through much of the summer. Only August had more than the usual rainfall for the month by just more than a tenth of an inch. By the end of September, SEA had finished more than seven inches of rain below average for its annual precipitation thus far.

First snow in the mountains

The turn to autumnal weather also means that, at 5,000 feet in elevation, the first snow of the year will begin in the mountains, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

Stevens Pass and the North Cascades are expected to receive some snow, potentially three to six inches at 5,000 feet, starting this weekend. Snoqualmie Pass can also expect to see some snow.

Follow Frank Sumrall on X. Send news tips here.