textproduct: Seattle/Tacoma

SYNOPSIS

Weak warm front hanging over the north coast today will lift north tonight. Trailing weak cold front will move through Tuesday. Dry and warmer weather Thursday and Friday as an upper level ridge centered over the Southwest builds back towards the Pacific Northwest. Ridge weakens Friday night. Upper level trough moving into Western Washington over the weekend with cooler temperatures and a chance of showers mainly coast and mountains.

SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

Satellite imagery shows cloudy skies over Western Washington early this morning. Doppler radar still has some light rain along the north coast. Temperatures at 3 am/10Z were in the mid 50s to lower 60s.

Weak warm front hanging out over the north coast today keeping a chance of rain in the forecast for the north coast and West Slopes of the Olympics. Remainder of the area in the warm sector ( means a lot more in the winter ) with low clouds dissipating this morning and middle and high levels clouds at times this afternoon. High temperatures warming a few degrees over the interior but still staying in the 70s. Highs in the mid 60s along the coast.

Warm front lifting north tonight with the weak trailing cold front moving through mainly the northern sections Tuesday. Rain increasing along the coast tonight spreading inland over the Northwest Interior and the North Cascades Tuesday morning. Chance of light rain or drizzle in the Puget Sound area during the morning commute. Front dissipating in the afternoon. Lows tonight in the 50s. Highs Tuesday in the mid 60s to mid 70s.

Upper level trough well offshore Tuesday night and Wednesday with southwesterly flow aloft continuing over the area. Models have slowed down the ridge building which now looks to begin Thursday. Lows in the 50s. Highs in the 70s for the interior and mid to upper 60s coast. Felton

LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/

Models delaying the start ridge building from the southeast into Thursday. 500 mb heights rising into the mid to upper 580 dms Friday with yet another upper level trough digging south offshore. Highs Thursday warming into the 70s and lower 80s for the interior. Friday will be the warmest day with highs in the mid 70s to mid 80s inland. Highs along the coast both days in the mid 60s to lower 70s.

Upper level trough moving into Western Washington for the weekend with a couple of shortwaves moving through the northern portion of the area. Most of the precipitation confined to the coast with just an increase in cloud cover and cooler temperatures over the interior with these features. Highs inland in the 70s Saturday and upper 60s to mid 70s Sunday. Highs on the coast in the mid 60s. Felton

AVIATION

Weak warm front along the north coast lifting north tonight. Weak cold front moving through the northern portion of the area Tuesday. Southwesterly flow aloft with low level onshore flow.

MVFR ceilings coast and over portions of the interior this morning. VFR ceilings over all of the interior by noon with MVFR ceilings along the coast continuing the rest of the day.

KSEA...MVFR ceilings this morning between 2000 and 3000 feet lifting to VFR 16Z-18Z. Just middle and high level clouds this afternoon and tonight. Southerly wind 6 to 10 knots becoming southwesterly 18Z-21Z. Felton

MARINE

Weak warm front hanging over the northern coastal waters today will lift north tonight. Weak cold front moving through Tuesday. High pressure will build in behind the front Tuesday night then remain over the waters through Friday.

Small craft advisory winds likely in the Central and Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca both Thursday and Friday evenings. Felton

FIRE WEATHER

Weak warm front over the north coast today lifting north tonight. Weak cold front moving through the northern portions Tuesday. Wetting rains for the north coast and West Slopes of the Olympics likely ( 50-60 percent chance ). Drier conditions return Wednesday with a brief warming trend Thursday and Friday. Minimum RH values dip into the 30s Thursday and Friday, but persistent low level onshore flow will help maintain good humidity recoveries in the overnight hours. Cooler weather over the weekend will keep fire weather concerns at a minimum. Felton

SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

WA...None. PZ...None.