"The early storm will not be as strong as the event we saw early last week, though it will impact the same areas," a meteorologist told Newsweek.

“Rain and mountain snow spread into the Northern Rockies, where 1-2 feet (isolated higher amounts possible) may accumulate on Wednesday. Wind, winter, and flooding related watches and warnings are in effect for much of the Northwest for the next couple of days at least.”

Successive storms early this week and beyond will trigger flooding, landslides and high winds in the mountains, with impacts that may cascade into regional air and highway travel through the busy holiday period.

A weekend storm sent temperatures plunging well below zero in the Midwest and dumped heavy snow on parts of the northeast on Sunday, creating many airport delays and slick roads as the Pacific Northwest braced for more rain after days of flooding and mudslides.

An atmospheric river event that's been slamming the Pacific Northwest with rain is now focused on western Washington.