National Weather Service (NWS) offices across the Pacific Northwest issued myriad weather alerts on Friday warning people that travel would be difficult as an atmospheric river brings heavy rain , strong winds, and high-elevation snow to the region this weekend.

NWS meteorologist Steve Reedy told Newsweek the biggest impacts from the storm will be from strong wind. Heavy rainfall is expected, but since the region has been dry this summer, widespread flooding is not expected.

Why It Matters

Atmospheric rivers are a "long, narrow region in the atmosphere—like rivers in the sky—that transport most of the water vapor outside of the tropics," according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The storms brought by atmospheric rivers are known for their heavy snow

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