The National Weather Service is Seattle has issued an area “flood watch” for Kitsap, King, Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Lewis, Mason, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston, and Whatcom counties.

The flood watch will be in effect from Thursday evening, Dec. 19 through Sunday evening, Dec. 22.

Forecasters note that a strong weather system will bring heavy rainfall, with 3 inches to 7 inches of precipitation falling across much of Western Washington Thursday evening through Friday.