Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Seattle/Tacoma, WA

Current Version |  Previous Version |  Text Only |  Print | Product List |  Glossary On
Versions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
-- Highlight Changed Discussion --
-- Discussion containing changed information from previous version are highlighted. --
425 FXUS66 KSEW 232139 AFDSEW Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Seattle WA 239 PM PDT Sun Jun 23 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
-- Changed Discussion --
An upper level trough continues to keep clouds in the region this afternoon, as well as a few lingering showers. The trough will fill over the states overnight into Monday, and will be replaced with high pressure and upper level ridging. While onshore flow will keep a few clouds along the coast, most areas will see dry and mostly clear skies for the first couple days of the work week, allowing for highs to climb into the upper 70s and low 80s by Tuesday. One more weak disturbance will pass through Wednesday and Thursday, returning the chance of showers, and near normal temperatures for all of western Washington.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
-- Changed Discussion --
Upper level 300 mb analysis shows an upper level low positioned over west central B.C. Canada, with a trough digging down into Washington and Oregon. Dynamically speaking (in terms of vorticity and jet streak energy), there has been enough support for cloud coverage and a few showers across the region this morning and afternoon. With last night`s weak cold front (now a surface trough) east of the Cascades, there will be a potential for convergence zone showers across Snohomish/King County border area this afternoon and evening. These are expected to remain light. Highs today remain quite a bit below average (by 5 to 10 degrees for some areas), with temperatures not expected to climb much past 60. Overnight, the trough will fill in over the region, becoming more of a zonal onshore flow pattern for the first part of Monday. There will likely be a mix of low stratus clouds, or potentially patchy fog in some areas, especially along the coast (depending on how much clearing there is Monday morning). Otherwise, models pick up on high pressure building via an upper level ridge, that will pass inland late Monday into Tuesday. The high temperatures will still be close to average for Monday (upper 60s to low 70s), but with models hinting at skies being a lot clearer for Tuesday, many areas will see highs soaring from the mid 70s to the low 80s for urban areas. Heat risk remains yellow (minor) with a couple tiny pockets potentially reaching orange (moderate). With winds remaining relatively light, this may make it harder to cool off (if working outdoors). The pattern will return to unsettled by Wednesday as an upper level trough will swing into western Washington. This is expected to be accompanied by an occluded/cold front down at the surface. Shower chances will increase during the day Wednesday. Depending on how cool aloft the air gets, will have to watch for a few isolated thunderstorms (at this point the risk remains in the northeast Cascades). A few gusty winds 15 to 20 mph are possible Wednesday afternoon. Temperatures will drop into the mid and upper 60s on Wednesday. .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...Shower chances continue into Thursday from the system on Wednesday. With models showing the system moving through a little bit quicker, the showers may be wrapped up by Thursday afternoon. There is a little bit of uncertainty from Friday through Sunday on how much ridging will take place behind the trough. Looking ahead, it appears Friday will be the driest day in this period, with another trough bringing a chance of showers Saturday night through Sunday. Onshore flow will keep temperatures seasonal. HPR
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .AVIATION...
-- Changed Discussion --
Upper level trough over Western Washington will move east tonight. Zonal flow aloft tonight and Monday. Onshore flow will persist in the lower levels through Monday. Satellite imagery shows much of western Washington under cloud cover this afternoon, with radar showing some light showers along the coast, southwest interior, and areas north of KPAE. Ceilings at the majority of the area terminals have rebounded to VFR. High- res guidance continues to indicate weak convergence zone showers persisting over northern King and Snohomish counties this evening into Monday, which could bring localized MVFR to IFR ceilings to KPAE at times. Ceilings look to lower towards more widespread MVFR overnight into early Monday, however look to scatter and lift for VFR conditions near 18Z Monday. KSEA...VFR ceilings through tonight. NBM guidance has a 35 percent chance of MVFR ceilings developing at the terminal between 12-15Z Monday. High-res guidance indicating CZ showers will likely stay to the north of the terminal. Southwest wind persisting at 10-14 kt, with gusts to 20-25 kt possible at times into this evening. Winds will ease back to 4-8 kt after 03Z and look to transition to the north and increase to 5-10 kt between 18-21Z Monday. 14
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .MARINE...
-- Changed Discussion --
Weak high pressure will build back over the coastal waters and interact with lower pressure inland tonight through Tuesday. Another frontal system will move across the area waters on Wednesday. High pressure will then rebuild over the coastal waters Thursday before another system approaches over the weekend. Diurnal westerly pushes are expected through the Strait of Juan de Fuca the next several days and could result in small craft advisories for the Central and Eastern Strait Tuesday through Thursday in the evenings. Seas building to 5-8 feet over the coastal waters this afternoon. Seas will continue to range between 6-8 feet on Monday, before subsiding back towards 4-6 feet Monday night into Tuesday. Seas then look to hover in this range through much of the week. 14
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WA...None. PZ...None. && $$