textproduct: Seattle/Tacoma

SYNOPSIS

Weak troughing remaining over the area into Saturday with cloudier and cooler conditions. Upper level ridge building into the area Sunday into Monday with warmer and drier conditions over the region. Weak troughiness returns midweek with temperatures remaining around normal.

SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/

Partly cloudy skies this afternoon as a front dissipates over western Washington. With low level flow across much of the area, will continue to see a mix of sun and clouds throughout the evening hours. Afternoon high temperatures will warm in the low to mid 70s.

Little change in the pattern heading into Saturday, as we will see a slight increase in onshore flow resulting in marine stratus over the interior. The day will start off cloudy but this marine layer will dissipate into the afternoon, leaving areas of clouds and sun throughout the evening. Areas along the coast could see mid to high level clouds across majority of the day. High temperatures will remain in the low 70s across much of the interior, with locations on the coast seeing high temperatures in the low 60s. Winds may become slightly breezy in the Northwest Interior, with potential to see occasional gusts up to 20 to 25 mph. Winds will be slightly stronger near Whidbey Island.

Upper level ridging rebuilds back into western Washington on Sunday, bringing warmer and drier conditions. Temperatures on Sunday will warm into the mid 70s, with some areas in the Southwest Interior seeing temperatures in the upper 70s / lower 80s.

Minor (Yellow) HeatRisk (for those extremely sensitive to heat) will continue to remain across most of the interior areas throughout the short term.

LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/

Upper level ridging will continue over the area with temperatures warming even further on Monday. High temperatures across the area look to warm into the low to mid 80s for much of the interior. Areas along the coast will see temperatures in the mid to upper 60s, with mostly clear skies. There is increasing chances (25-35%) for Moderate (Orange) HeatRisk east and south of the Puget Sound on Monday with these warmer temperatures.

Ridge will shift eastward on Tuesday, allowing for temperatures to slightly decrease but remain on the warmer side, in the upper 70s.

A weak system looks to brush over the area on Wednesday for a chance of rain along the coast, the Olympics, and the North Cascades. Will see increased cloud cover with high temperatures in the low 70s. Troughiness will continue throughout the remainder of the week with onshore flow. Temperature's look to remain in the low to mid 70s through Friday.

AVIATION

A mix bag of VFR/MVFR ceilings out there this afternoon with some low to mid level clouds across the area. These conditions will likely remain throughout the afternoon with light low level flow. Another round of marine stratus looks to enter the area tonight into Saturday morning, with probabilities of 50 to 70% of MVFR ceilings. Low ceilings will likely linger areas along the coast (KHQM KCLM). Light variable winds this afternoon will shift more southwesterly this evening, around 3 to 7 knots.

KSEA...VFR conditions at the terminal this afternoon with light, variable winds. Latest guidance shows around a 40-60% chance of MVFR ceilings generally around 10z-17z. VFR looks to rebound afterwards in the afternoon and lasting throughout the evening hours. Winds will slowly transition to a WNW direction this evening, (03-07z) with speeds remaining light. Winds will then take a S/SW direction by Saturday morning.

MARINE

Surface high pressure will continue over the northeastern Pacific, maintaining onshore flow throughout most of the forecast period. Diurnally driven westerlies will continue likely each afternoon/evening throughout the Strait of Juan De Fuca. A small craft advisory remains for this afternoons push. Additional headlines will be likely for more consecutive pushes each day. A weak front will move over the waters tomorrow with no impacts. High pressure will continue along with a weak front midweek.

Seas remain 5 feet or lower through Saturday and will build to 8- 10 feet by Sunday. Seas will subside below 10 feet on Monday.

FIRE WEATHER

Even with the slight warming trend into next Monday the low level onshore pattern will remain intact. This will keep good overnight relative humidity recoveries in the forecast and help subdue fire weather concerns despite the warmer temperatures. Another front in the middle of next week will bring a chance of showers to portions of the mountains and the coast keeping fire weather concerns at a minimum.

Mazurkiewicz

SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

WA...None. PZ...Small Craft Advisory from 5 PM this afternoon to 5 AM PDT Saturday for Central U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- East Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca.