PORTLAND (AP) — Forecasters say another Pacific storm should dump several inches of rain on the north coast and inland.

“We’re certainly expecting some flooding,” Meteorologist Tyree Wilde said.

The National Weather Service says the rainfall today and Thursday could total 4 inches to 8 inches in the Coast Range north of Tillamook — slightly heavier in southwest Washington.

One inch to 3 inches could fall in the Portland area.

Rain is in the forecast for the South Coast this afternoon and evening. Windy weather is in the forecast tonight, too, with gusts expected to 50 mph. Rain should continue Thursday, but by Friday partly cloudy skies are forecast into the weekend from Florence down to Brookings.

The major snowstorm before the turn of the year and rainfall since then means “there’s not a lot of space in the rivers,” Wilde said.

Making matters worse is the snowpack in the mountains, he said. It’s dense with moisture, and snow levels are expected to rise, a signal of water coming down drainages.

The storm came ashore Tuesday night with high winds at coastal headlands.

The storm is expected to be most intense initially today over southwest Washington, and then its focus will drop south into Oregon, Tyree said. A cold front by Thursday is expected to bring more favorable weather.

Until then, Wilde said, “We’ve got a pretty potent weather system that’s got a lot of moisture available for rainfall.”

Wilde says the weather patterns affecting Oregon are poised between those typical of El Niño and La Niña ocean conditions, but the recent pattern of stormy weather every few days is typical of La Niña years.