Hail, thunder, lightning, strong gusts of wind, and rain struck Seattle Wednesday evening.

Several neighborhoods, including Queen Anne, South Lake Union, and Fremont, reported experiencing intense rain and several lightning flashes.

Rain is expected to persist until 12 a.m. Thursday, before reappearing throughout most of the day. As much as 0.7 inches of rain is expected over the next 24 hours.

Since daylight saving time ended Sunday, “The Big Dark” has overtaken western Washington. A series of Pacific weather systems is expected to resume their parade into the region, bringing periods of rain. High temperatures for the rest of the week are forecast to be relatively mild, in the 50s, while lows are anticipated to drop only into the 40s.

By this weekend, forecast charts are pointing to another wet and windy weather system, primarily on Sunday. Monitor this situation as the week draws closer to the weekend.

Mountain conditions

For those with plans to travel across the Cascades, snow levels this week are expected to remain rather high, primarily above highway pass levels. Driving conditions should involve wet pavement.

November is usually the wettest month

November is historically the wettest month of the year, and the region could use the rain. Much of Western Washington remains in moderate-to-severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Through October, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is more than seven inches of rain below average. Olympia is about 12 inches below average, while Bellingham has a 3.5-inch rain deficit. Along the coast, Forks remains well behind, at more than 24 inches below average, while Hoquiam is more than eight inches of rain behind.

November is historically No. 1 for flooding

November also happens to be the No. 1 month for river flooding, primarily because there is usually little mountain snowpack to soak up those warmer rainy days when snow levels rise. Recent rains have helped raise river levels from well below normal stream flows.

With more rain in sight as the month proceeds, the threat of river flooding should rise. Those in low-lying areas along rivers and streams should prepare for the possibility of flooding. Remain vigilant by monitoring weather and river forecasts. Remember – when you are weather-aware, you are weather-prepared.

Looking at the weather outlook for the month, temperatures are expected to be primarily warmer than average, with precipitation odds above normal. Welcome to November, with its wetter weather and “The Big Dark.”

Contributing: Frank Sumrall, MyNorthwest

Ted Buehner is the KIRO Newsradio meteorologist. Follow him on X and Bluesky. Read more of his stories here.

A sizable shift in how Seattle’s business taxes will operate is coming after the expected passage of Proposition 2.

Seattle’s Prop. 2 Business & Occupation tax passed with 67.8% voting in favor, compared to 32.2% voting against.

Approximately 90% of Seattle businesses, all small in size and stature, would pay lower taxes under this proposition. However, for companies with annual gross revenues exceeding $5.7 million, taxes are expected to increase. Companies producing that level of revenue make up approximately 10% of businesses in Seattle.

“Trump-era cuts threaten the funding Seattle relies on for housing, public health, and safety,” supporters of Prop 2 stated on its website. “Without local action, critical programs could be slashed, worsening the homelessness and overdose crises. Revenue from the Seattle Shield Prop 2 update on B&O tax would support the City’s General Fund to sustain essential services.”

The City of Seattle estimated that this proposition could generate an additional $80 million annually for the city.

Mayor Bruce Harrell and Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck, both of whom are on the ballot seeking reelection, proposed the measure to the Seattle City Council in August. After a vote, it made its way onto the November ballot.

Critics of Proposition 2 claimed high-grossing businesses with low profit margins, like a grocery store, would be negatively impacted by this change.

“Seattle’s tax system differs from that of many other U.S. cities. Seattle businesses contribute a significantly higher percentage of the Seattle city government’s costs compared to businesses in other cities,” Eugene Wasserman,  president of the North Seattle Industrial Association, stated. “To continue this bargain for Seattle residents, Seattle’s existing businesses must grow, and new companies must move in. Maintaining healthy business growth across small, medium, and large businesses is essential. While Prop 2 provides a tax break to small companies, it more than doubles the tax burden for medium and large companies.”

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Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh and manager Dan Wilson have each been selected as finalists for two of MLB’s most prestigious awards.

This is a big week for the Seattle Mariners and Jorge Polanco’s future

Raleigh was named as one of three finalists for the American League MVP and Wilson as one of three finalists for AL Manager of the Year during an MLB Network broadcast on Monday.

Raleigh was nominated alongside New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge and Cleveland Guardians third baseman José Ramírez.

The 28-year-old catcher is coming off a record-setting year in which helped the Mariners win their first AL West title and reach their first AL Championship Series in 24 years. He mashed 60 home runs, becoming just the seventh player in MLB history to reach the historic mark. In the process, he broke Mickey Mantle’s home run record for switch-hitters (54) and Salvador Perez’s for catchers (48). He also became the first player to hit 20 home runs from each side of the plate in a single season.

Raleigh slashed .247/.359/.589 with a .948 OPS, 161 wRC+ and an AL-leading 125 RBIs over 159 games this season. His 9.1 fWAR was the second most of any AL player, trailing only Judge’s 10.1.

The last Mariner to win AL MVP was Ichiro Suzuki in 2001.

While Ramírez is included in the race, it’s widely known to be a two-man showdown between Raleigh and Judge.

New York’s slugging outfielder led MLB in all three triple-slash categories at .331/.457/.688 with a 1.114 OPS, 53 home runs and 114 RBIs. No other AL player had an OPS of 1.000. His 204 wRC+ was also 38 points higher than the next AL batter.

Judge has a clear advantage over Raleigh in just about every offensive category outside of home runs and RBI, but Raleigh’s case carries the argument of playing a premium defensive position and having an unmeasurable impact as an everyday catcher. Raleigh, who logged 1,072 innings behind the plate in 2025, played nearly 250 more innings in the field than Judge (822 1/3 innings).

Wilson, who took over in late August 2024, went 21-13 in the team’s remaining 34 games last season. This year, the Mariners finished the regular season with a record of 90-72, with Wilson becoming the first manager in club history to take the team to the postseason or win a division title in his first full season.

Wilson is joined by former Mariners bullpen coach and reigning AL Manager of the Year Stephen Vogt of the Cleveland Guardians and Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider as finalists for manager of the year.

Wilson is vying to join two-time winner and fellow Mariners Hall of Famer Lou Piniella (1995 and 2001) as the only managers in club history to win the award.

The MVP and manager of the year awards are voted on by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. The winners will be announced Nov. 13 at 3 p.m. on MLB Network.

Seattle Sports Mariners insider Shannon Drayer contributed to this story. 

More Seattle Mariners coverage

• Seattle Mariners catcher Mitch Garver becomes free agent
• Julio Rodríguez falls short of first Gold Glove
• Why a pitcher trade may finally be a part of Seattle Mariners’ offseason
• M’s fans should be ready for an uncomfortable Josh Naylor free agency
• Cal Raleigh named top MLB player by peers

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