New Storm Slams British Columbia (VIDEO)

System will pump heavy rain into coastal areas of Pacific Northwest.

Photo and video courtesy: Accuweather.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - Weather forecasts indicate that the storm pattern will continue today in the Northwest as a new Pacific storm slams into British Columbia. Through Thursday, the storm will pump heavy rain into coastal areas in the Pacific Northwest and several more feet of snow in the Cascades.

Up to 18 inches of snow will fall by tonight across the Washington and Oregon Cascades. Snow levels through tonight will drop to around 3,000 feet, well below the passes.

Strong winds will create areas of blowing and drifting snow, while the avalanche danger remains at an extreme level. As a result, motorists should be prepared for hazardous mountain driving conditions.

Storm-related watches and warnings are in effect in the coastal mountains, the Cascades and the Intermountain West.

To the south, building high pressure over the Great Basin will bring calm weather to much of California. The Southwest Regional News story reports that the building high pressure and a dip in the jet stream will allow colder air to flow well to the south.

Temperatures across the West will continue at or below normal for early February until the end of the week, when the jet stream will shift to the north.

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