Episode 64
Impending Storms: Pacific Flooding and Midwest Snow
A potent Pacific atmospheric river is currently inundating Washington and Oregon, resulting in significant urban and river flooding. The episode elucidates the ongoing flood warnings affecting several rivers in these regions, while simultaneously addressing a rapidly advancing winter storm traversing the upper Midwest and Great Lakes. This storm is anticipated to produce bursts of snow, pockets of freezing rain, and robust winds, thereby complicating travel and potentially causing localized power outages. Moreover, Southeast Alaska is grappling with perilous wind chills under cold weather advisories, as the National Hurricane Center confirms a lack of active cyclones in both the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific during this off-season. Throughout the discussion, we emphasize the necessity for vigilance and preparedness in the face of these severe weather conditions.
Takeaways:
- The Pacific atmospheric river continues to cause significant urban and river flooding in Washington and Oregon, necessitating urgent caution.
- Multiple regions are under flood warnings due to saturated soils and strong winds, which pose risks of falling trees and power outages.
- Severe winter storms are affecting the Midwest and Northeast, leading to hazardous travel conditions and potential power disruptions due to ice and snow.
- In Alaska, dangerously cold temperatures persist, bringing about severe wind chill advisories that require vigilance and preparedness.
- California's Bay Area is experiencing notable coastal hazards, including strong currents and high breaking waves, prompting advisories for beachgoers.
- Oregon remains under flood watch as continuous heavy rain leads to rising river levels and associated dangers in the region.
Sources
[NWS — Cold Weather Advisory product summary | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=usa&wwa=Cold+Weather+Advisory]
[NWS Fairbanks discussion portal | https://www.weather.gov/afg/AOD]
[NWS San Francisco/Monterey — hazards page | https://www.weather.gov/mtr/]
[NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard — hazards page | https://www.weather.gov/lox/]
[NWS Honolulu Surf Forecast — issued
today | https://www.weather.gov/hfo/SRF]
[Kauaʻi Now News advisory write-up | https://kauainownews.com/2025/12/10/moderate-swells-trigger-high-surf-advisory-for-north-west-shores-of-kauai-niihau/]
[NWS Caribou — office hazards page | https://www.weather.gov/car/]
[NWS point forecast—Caribou with advisory timing | https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?textField1=46.8668&textField2=-67.9906]
[NWS Gaylord—WWA text | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=grr&wwa=winter+weather+advisory]
[Big Rapids News roundup | https://www.bigrapidsnews.com/news/article/michigan-winter-weather-advisories-december-9-21233133.php]
[MPR News school delays/commute impacts | https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/12/09/winter-storm-forecast-snow-freezing-rain-strong-winds]
[NWS Duluth office portal | https://www.weather.gov/dlh/]
[NWS Billings—Absaroka/Beartooth WSW | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=mso&wwa=winter+storm+warning]
[NWS Great Falls/Missoula advisory summary | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=mso&wwa=winter+weather+advisory]
[NWS Binghamton—Northern Oneida WSW | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=bgm&wwa=winter%20storm%20warning]
[Adirondack Daily Enterprise—travel impacts today | https://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/news/local-news/2025/12/tricky-travel-today/]
[NWS Bismarck—hazards page | https://www.weather.gov/bis/]
[InForum statewide travel impacts | https://www.inforum.com/news/north-dakota/high-winds-snow-freezing-rain-create-hazardous-driving-across-north-dakota]
[NWS Portland—hazards page showing Flood Warnings | https://www.weather.gov/pqr/]
[OPB recap of flooding/landslides | https://www.opb.org/article/2025/12/10/weather-pacific-northwest-storms-flooding-landslides/]
[NWS Burlington—office hazards | https://www.weather.gov/btv/]
[NWS Burlington recreational forecast/advisory timing | https://www.weather.gov/btv/recreation]
[NWS Seattle—hazards page showing Flood Warnings | https://www.weather.gov/sew/]
[AP regional recap including rescues and outages | https://apnews.com/article/8eb0a0bbfa34a5b542c727fefed668a4]
[NWS Wisconsin WWA summary page (selected zones) | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=mkx&wwa=winter%20storm%20warning]
[NWS Riverton—WSW text (Yellowstone/Absaroka/Teton) | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=riw&wwa=winter+storm+warning]
[LocalNews8 alert mirror of NWS product | https://localnews8.com/weather/alerts-weather/2025/12/10/winter-storm-warning-issued-december-10-at-337am-mst-until-december-10-at-500pm-mst-by-nws-riverton-wy/]
Transcript
Several rivers are already under flood warnings.
Speaker A:At the same time, a fast moving winter storm pushes across the upper Midwest into the Great Lakes and interior Northeast bringing bursts of snow, pockets of freezing rain and strong winds that will complicate commutes and could prompt spot power outages farther north.
Speaker A:Southeast Alaska deals with dangerous wind chills under cold weather advisories in the tropics.
Speaker A:The National Hurricane center reports no active cyclones in the Atlantic or Eastern Pacific during this off season period.
Speaker A:Let's run through the states.
Speaker A:Alaska Bitter cold persists for parts of Southeast and interior Alaska.
Speaker A:California Coastal hazards headline today the Bay Area office highlights a beach hazards statement and small craft advisories.
Speaker A:Breaking waves 12 to 16ft and strong currents mean dangerous surf.
Speaker A:Hawaii A high surf advisory is posted for north and west facing shores of Kauai and Niihau as medium period northwest swells build.
Speaker A:NWS Honolulu Surf forecast products are updated this morning.
Speaker A:Maine Snow impacts persist today across northern Maine.
Speaker A:NWS Caribou keeps winter weather advisories in effect into tonight for interior zones.
Speaker A:Michigan Winter weather advisories remain in effect across portions of northwest and north central lower Michigan through this afternoon.
Speaker A:NWS Gaylord notes 2 to 4 inches of additional snow and gusts into the 30s miles per hour with lake effect bands behind the system.
Speaker A:Local outlets report slick travel from I96 north to M72.
Speaker A:Expect variable conditions and blowing snow near open areas.
Speaker A:Minnesota the departing storm leaves patchy ice and snow covered roads mainly in central and northern Minnesota early today.
Speaker A:NPR reports numerous school delays.
Speaker A:NWS Duluth maintains winter headlines in lake effect favored areas.
Speaker A:Montana Winter headlines continue for mountain zones.
Speaker A:A winter storm warning remains in effect for the Absaroka Beartooth Mountains until late afternoon.
Speaker A:Additional 10 to 18 inches over higher peaks and hazardous travel over passes are highlighted.
Speaker A:Separate advisories cover Maria's Pass and parts of northwest Montana.
Speaker A:New York A winter storm warning continues for northern Oneida county with snow and blowing snow today.
Speaker A:Advisories elsewhere in central and eastern upstate expect the heaviest snow to taper toward evening, but roads remain slick in the Adirondacks and Tug Hill Plateau.
Speaker A:North Dakota High winds with snow and pockets of freezing rain created hazardous travel statewide.
Speaker A:NWS Bismarck highlights ongoing winter hazards today while DOT advisories ease gradually.
Speaker A:Media report near zero visibility at times and black ice.
Speaker A:Oregon Flood watches and warnings remain across northwest Oregon and the Lower Columbia as the atmospheric river persists NWS Portland warns saturated soils, gusty winds and rising rivers can topple trees and cause outages.
Speaker A:Snow spreads across Vermont today with winter weather advisories posted by nws.
Speaker A:BURLINGTON Highest travel impacts in the morning to midday, especially across the northern Green Mountains.
Speaker A:Washington Western Washington remains under multiple flood warnings and flood watches.
Speaker A:NWS SEATTLE Highlights Renewed heavy rain today with river rises and some coastal flooding.
Speaker A:Gusty winds add tree and power line risk on saturated ground.
Speaker A:Wisconsin Overnight winter storm warnings and advisories expired early this morning across parts of central and northern Wisconsin.
Speaker A:Residual blowing, drifting and slick spots persist mainly near open areas and lake belts.
Speaker A:Wyoming Winter storm warnings remain through late afternoon for Yellowstone, the Absarokas and Teton Gros Ventre ranges.
Speaker A:NWS Riverton calls for additional Snow and mountain gusts 50 to 65 mph.
Speaker A:All other states have no significant updates in the last 24 hours.
Speaker A:We'll keep watch on the Pacific river flooding and the Midwest to Northeast winter impacts through the day.
Speaker A:For hyper local alerts, always check your NWS office.
Speaker A:Sources are in the show notes below.
Speaker A:Stay safe.
