Portland expecting more than half of monthly average rainfall over weekend

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- A weak and considerably short-lived atmospheric river will hit the greater Portland-Vancouver metro area this weekend.

Soaking rains that moved into western Oregon and Washington on Friday will continue to intensify through the weekend. Rain accumulation will continue to add up from the coast to the Willamette Valley until the middle of next week. A late-season Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the Cascades as snow returns to the mountains.

On average, May is a month that brings slightly warmer and drier conditions back to the Pacific Northwest. May's average rainfall accumulation typically sits around 2.51" while rain accumulation forecasts predict this weekend's rain will likely push Portland to over half of the average rainfall expected this month. Portland is only days into the fifth month of the year with a surplus of water already starting to take shape. That will help make up for Portland's April rain deficit.

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from early Saturday morning to nearly noon Sunday. That's where a foot to almost two feet of new snow could fall on Mt. Hood. Snow elevations will drop as low as 3,000 feet. Mountain pass travel will likely be tricky this weekend and into the start of next week.

Drier and warmer temperatures will start working back into western Oregon and Washington by the end of next week.

Stay with the KOIN 6 Weather Team as this late-season storm moves through the region this weekend.