textproduct: Seattle/Tacoma

SYNOPSIS

A break in the weather is in store for Saturday as high pressure rebuilds temporarily. An additional weather system will arrive on Sunday for rain and breezy conditions. Strong high pressure rebuilds next week for more dry and warmer than normal conditions.

SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/

Another frontal system will arrive on Friday for rain and breezy conditions. The heaviest rain will be focused along the Olympic Peninsula and breezy conditions along the coast and in through the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca. Expect wind gusts between 20-35 mph along the immediate coast through the day tomorrow.

Transient high pressure will build in on Saturday, with some PoPs left on the coast and in through the northern Inland waters near Whatcom and Skagit counties. Temperatures will be a bit above average on Saturday, with widespread highs in the upper 50s, even touching 60 in the Cascade foothills area. Given the temperature profiles through the weekend, the snow levels will be much above pass levels, for rain across the passes which of course isn't great for a struggling snowpack.

LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/

Another system will move through the area on Sunday for more rain and breezy conditions and highs back into the low 50s. High pressure returns to the forecast in earnest early next week. A passing system may not fully be deterred by the ridge and the warm front may still clip the northern areas of the CWA. There are still some PoPs in the forecast for most of the area on Sunday.

The threat for coastal flooding on Sunday is quite limited, and of all locations that has a slightly better chance of seeing it would be in the Port Angeles to Port Townsend region at this point. Given the pressures rapidly rising, the threat is low, but something that will be watched for the coastal locations of Puget Sound and into the Strait of Juan de Fuca over the next several days.

Beyond the dry conditions in the forecast, perhaps the more signature mark of the ridge returning into next week are the temperatures. Once again, temperatures rebound into the upper 50s and potentially low 60s come Tuesday through Thursday.

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AVIATION

West to southwest flow aloft will continue into Friday as another frontal system moves across the region. Overall precipitation coverage will increase late this afternoon into tonight as a warm front brushes the coast. MVFR and occasional IFR conditions will continue along the coast with interior areas becoming a mixed bag of low end VFR and high end MVFR in increasing rain tonight. Gusty southeast surface winds are expected for the coastal areas and the northern interior again late tonight into early Friday.

KSEA...Mostly high end MVFR in light rain is expected late this afternoon into tonight. An overall trend toward decreasing precip and lifting ceilings is expected overnight as the warm front shifts north of the area. Ceilings are expected to fall back to MVFR for a period Friday afternoon as a trailing cold front sweeps inland across the area. Surface winds primarily southeasterly 8 to 11 knots will ease to 7 knots or less overnight before shifting southerly and rising to 8 to 13 knots will the arrival of the cold front midday Friday.

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MARINE

Another warm front will move into the area waters tonight and will be followed by a trailing cold front on Friday. This system will bring yet another round of southerly gales to the coastal waters and the eastern Strait and small craft strength southerlies to the northern interior waters into Friday morning. Coastal seas will remain elevated between 12-16 ft.

The pattern will remain active into early next week, with another, weaker system expected to move across the area waters over the weekend. Seas will subside heading into the weekend and will generally range between 9-12 ft by early next week.

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HYDROLOGY

Additional weather systems are expected through Sunday, though the Skokomish River near Potlatch will likely begin receding over the next several days from minor flood. No other area rivers seem to be at risk of additional flooding at this time given the rainfall that has already fallen and what's left to come out of the next few systems. High pressure and dry conditions will ease flooding concerns into early next week.

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SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

WA...High Surf Advisory until 4 PM PST this afternoon for Grays Harbor County Coast-Northern Washington Coast.

PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 4 PM PST Friday for Grays Harbor Bar.

Small Craft Advisory until 4 AM PST Friday for Admiralty Inlet- Northern Inland Waters Including The San Juan Islands- West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca.

Small Craft Advisory until 7 PM PST this evening for East Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca.

Gale Warning from 7 PM this evening to 10 AM PST Friday for East Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca.

Small Craft Advisory until 4 PM PST this afternoon for Coastal Waters From Cape Flattery To James Island 10 To 60 Nm- Coastal Waters From Cape Flattery To James Island Out 10 Nm-Coastal Waters From James Island To Point Grenville 10 To 60 Nm-Coastal Waters From James Island To Point Grenville Out 10 Nm-Coastal Waters From Point Grenville To Cape Shoalwater 10 To 60 Nm-Coastal Waters From Point Grenville To Cape Shoalwater Out 10 Nm.

Gale Warning until 10 AM PST Friday for Coastal Waters From Cape Flattery To James Island 10 To 60 Nm-Coastal Waters From Cape Flattery To James Island Out 10 Nm-Coastal Waters From James Island To Point Grenville 10 To 60 Nm- Coastal Waters From James Island To Point Grenville Out 10 Nm-Coastal Waters From Point Grenville To Cape Shoalwater 10 To 60 Nm-Coastal Waters From Point Grenville To Cape Shoalwater Out 10 Nm.