Don't let recent warm temperatures fool you — fall is definitely here to stay with rain, rain and more rain coming this weekend.
A powerful jet stream is collecting moisture from Typhoon Phanfone near Japan, and is headed for a low pressure system in the Gulf of Alaska. And that could turn into an atmospheric river bound for the Northwest.
"We're trying to hold back on calling it an atmospheric river," said Will Ahue, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Portland. "Right now, we still have rain forecasted for the weekend ... the models have been going back and forth."
An atmospheric river in this region is also known as the Pineapple Express.
The National Weather Service reports that the system will bring a lot of rain to the region this weekend, after a particularly warm start to October. Forecasters still haven't determined when and where the heaviest rain will hit, but the region can expect stormy weather starting Friday.
The Pineapple Express has historically caused floods, landslides and mudslides.
Though the Pineapple Express isn't certain to happen, Ahue said the National Weather Service would keep an eye on it and issue warnings if they suspect heavy rains will fall. Areas of particular concern could include forestland stripped of foliage because of summer wildfires.
Copyright 2014 Oregon Public Broadcasting
