Forecasters say an atmospheric river will bring up to half an inch of rain to the Eugene area over the coming days, with some parts of northern Oregon expected to see up to three inches.

Tanja Fransen, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Portland, said atmospheric rivers usually pass through the area during fall and early winter months. The last time one was seen in August was in 2001.

Fransen said atmospheric rivers—a term coined in the 1990s —are accumulations of moisture in the atmosphere that take the long shape of a river, as opposed to the round shape of a hurricane.

The river expected to pass through the region will not end wildfire season, she said, but it may help with the ongoing drought in Oregon.

“Astoria is 2.2 inches down in precipitation since the start

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