Forecasters: West Coast to finally get a break from storms by mid-week

After the beginning the week with more storms, a dramatic shift in the pattern for the West Coast will happen mid-week resulting in drier and warmer conditions, forecasters say.

Initially, multiple waves of storms will dampen the West Coast as next week begins, according to AccuWeather forecasters.

Through at least Tuesday, the wet stretch will be ongoing for cities such as Portland, Ore., Seattle and Eureka, Calif., as rounds of rain saturate areas of Washington, Oregon and California.

Into early next week, storms will douse areas along the southwest coast of British Columbia, Canada, to Northwest California with several inches of rain. Rainfall totals can rise to 2-4 inches from Olympic National Park in northwest Washington to Six Rivers National Forest in northwest California. Localized coastal flooding can occur as repeat downpours and ample Pacific moisture surges inland.

Chances for additional mountain snowfall will remain high over the upcoming days across the Cascade Range, Klamath Mountains and northern and central Sierra. Snow is expected to fall across locations above 3,500 feet in the Washington Cascades and above 4,000-4,500 feet in the Oregon Cascades.

But by mid-week, a dramatic shift in the pattern will take place and result in drier and warmer conditions. Forecasters say that a northward bulge in the jet stream will become amplified along the West Coast, ushering in warmth from the south.

"From Wednesday to late week, high pressure will build along the Pacific Northwest as an upper-level low develops over Southeastern California and the Desert Southwest," explained AccuWeather Meteorologist Elizabeth Danco.

Danco added that this pattern will promote dry conditions, plenty of sunshine and a warming trend for the Bay Area. Places like San Francisco and Sacramento, Calif., will have daytime temperatures rise from the lower 60s early week to the 70s by Thursday and Friday.

In conjunction with the building warmth, the mid-week setup across the West will also be conducive for gusty offshore winds in California. Even those traveling or residing in wind-prone areas across the northern Sierra Nevada and Sacramento Valley could experience strong northerly to easterly winds from Wednesday afternoon to Thursday.

Gusts in Northern California could exceed 40 mph as a strong pressure gradient develops between the zone of high pressure along the Northwest coast and upper-level low diving into the Southwest states.

Locations across Southern California are expected to miss out on the strongest winds however, gusty northeast winds can develop by late Wednesday night across the ridgetops and through the canyons surrounding the Los Angeles Basin.