textproduct: Seattle/Tacoma

SYNOPSIS

A strong frontal system will bring gusty winds and additional rainfall to western Washington today. A warm front will boost temperatures as it moves northwards into the area Saturday. A follow-up cold front Saturday night into Sunday will bring another round of rain and gusty winds. The weather pattern remains active next week as additional storms impact the area.

SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY/

The first in a series of strong Pacific frontal systems will impact the region today with strong winds along the coast and North Interior. Expect south winds with gusts to 50 MPH - Wind Advisories are in effect. Winds will ease late this afternoon. Rain-wise, most of the precipitation will be along the coast, Olympic peninsula, and north part this morning, with rain filling in across the Seattle metro this afternoon and evening. Showers will taper off after midnight as the cold front exits.

A warm front will move into B.C. on Saturday and we will start the day dry and mild. Highs will track warmer than average with temperatures in the 60s. A deep low will head toward Haida Gwaii Saturday night while sending a cold front into western WA. This will bring another round of windy and rainy weather with the potential for strong winds along the coast. It'll be windy in the interior too with gusts to 30-40 MPH.

There's a brief break between systems on Sunday but the focus will turn toward the coast again as a large swell train reaches Washington. Seas of 20-25 ft will reach the coastal waters with potential for high surf condition along the beaches. 33

LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/

The weather pattern remains active next week as additional Pacific storms track NE and impact the Pac NW. Each storm brings the potential for windy conditions (especially the coast), with more lowland rain and high elevation snow. There's little break in the action through the period. 33

AVIATION

West to southwest flow aloft prevails into tonight as a warm front stalled offshore shifts into Western Washington later today and weakens. As precipitation associated with this frontal system spreads onshore, a deterioration to MVFR ceilings is expected along the coast and across the North Interior toward mid/late morning with said conditions spreading to the remainder of the area this afternoon. Gusty south to southeasterly surface winds of 20 to 30 knots with locally higher gusts can be expected for coastal areas and the interior from KPAE northward into this afternoon before easing.

KSEA...Ceilings are expected to remain at or above 4000 feet through 18Z with periods of light rain developing this morning. Ceilings are then expected to fall to MVFR near or after 21Z as the bulk of the rain with the front shifts into the area. These conditions are expected to persist well into the evening before precipitation decreases overnight. Surface winds S/SE 7 to 10 knots will rise to 10 to 15 knots at times this afternoon with occasional higher gusts before easing tonight.

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MARINE

An active weather patter across area waters will continue into next week as a series of frontal systems cross the region. Gales remain in place today for the coastal waters, strait entrances, and northern inland waters as a stalled warm front eventually shifts onshore and weakens this evening. All attention then turns toward a surface low that will deepen to near 970 millibars as it lifts northeastward offshore on Saturday night pushing a vigorous frontal system into the area. This system looks sufficiently strong to produce gales across all waters between midday Saturday and midday Sunday. And there is enough potential for some storm force gusts to hoist a storm watch for the coastal waters during said period. In addition to the wind threat, coastal seas will build substantially and could exceed 25 feet across portions of the coastal waters by early Sunday morning. Brief high pressure will build over the waters Sunday night into early Monday before additional systems arrive with the potential for more headlines.

Rough to severe bar conditions will develop at Grays Harbor today and continue until further notice.

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HYDROLOGY

River flooding is not expected through the next seven days. However, a series of increasingly wet weather systems will bring rain (and high mountain snow) to the region, especially from Friday onward. While current forecasts are not expected to cause flooding, this will begin to saturate soils and raise base flows that could bring a concern with subsequent storms systems into next week.

SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

WA...Wind Advisory until 4 PM PST this afternoon for Island County- Lowlands of Western Skagit and Northwestern Snohomish Counties-Lowlands of Western Whatcom County-San Juan County.

Wind Advisory until 1 PM PST this afternoon for Northern Washington Coast.

Wind Advisory from 7 AM this morning to 4 PM PST this afternoon for Grays Harbor County Coast.

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

Gale Warning until 2 PM PST this afternoon for East Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca.

Gale Watch from Saturday morning through Sunday morning for Central U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-East Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca.

Small Craft Advisory from 10 AM this morning to midnight PST tonight for Central U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca.

Gale Warning until 2 PM PST this afternoon for Northern Inland Waters Including The San Juan Islands.

Gale Watch from Saturday afternoon through Sunday afternoon for Admiralty Inlet-Northern Inland Waters Including The San Juan Islands.

Small Craft Advisory until 4 PM PST this afternoon for Admiralty Inlet.

Small Craft Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 11 PM PST this evening for Puget Sound and Hood Canal.

Gale Watch from Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning for Puget Sound and Hood Canal.

Gale Warning 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.

Storm Watch from Saturday morning through Sunday morning 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.