Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Seattle/Tacoma, WA

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035 FXUS66 KSEW 160922 AFDSEW Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Seattle WA 222 AM PDT Sun Jun 16 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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Showers and isolated thunderstorms will continue today as an upper level trough remains over the region. The trough will shift east on Monday with lingering showers over higher terrain. A warming and drying trend will commence for the remainder of the week as high pressure aloft gradually builds into the region.
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&& .SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
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As of 2 AM PDT, convergence zone showers between Snohomish and Stevens Pass are slowly tapering off. Rain rates have lessened with these showers, and the Flash Flood Watch for the Bolt Creek burn scar has been allowed to expire. Alongside the convergence zone activity, light showers along the coast will continue to progress inland with onshore flow while showers just north of the Canada border continue to shift southward with an advancing front. An upper level trough will slowly drop southward throughout the day today, swinging a frontal system across western Washington. Another round of showers will spread southward throughout the day with embedded thunderstorm activity mainly southwest of the Puget Sound, where models show instability peaking around 250-300 J/kg in the early afternoon. Storms that develop may produce small hail, locally heavy rain, and gusty outflow winds alongside lightning. The primary push of moisture will taper off by this evening, with another round of showers mainly over higher terrain moving southward across western Washington early Monday morning as a disturbance in the northerly flow aloft ripples through. Conditions will dry out for most areas on Monday, except for light showers favored to linger over the North Cascades. Another shortwave trough will drop across the Pacific Northwest early Tuesday, stirring up more light shower activity once again favored over the mountains. Temperatures will remain on the cool side in the mid 60s today and Monday before returning to near- normal around 70 degrees by Tuesday. .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...Ensembles continue to highlight weak flow through the extended period with a warming trend through at least mid-week. Onshore flow will keep coastal areas cool while lowlands further inland are on track to reach 80 degrees by Thursday. Temperatures will slowly moderate thereafter with mostly dry conditions through the period. Lindeman
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&& .AVIATION...
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A broad upper level trough remains over the Pac NW with a cool and slightly unstable air mass over western WA. As the upper level low continues to move south and east throughout the day, flow aloft will be variable for much of the day before turning to the northeast by tonight and becoming more northerly Monday. Latest radar still shows some isolated showers, but much of W WA is dry. The notable standout is a convergence zone along the Snohomish/King county line, but this is well east of any terminals and should not have a significant impact on aviation operations. With the upper level low still above the area, expectation is for scattered showers to develop again late this morning and into the afternoon and evening. Conditions are more stable than yesterday, so thunder chances are less. While cannot rule out a stray rumble, confidence is not there for inclusion in any TAFs. VFR conditions in place for much of the area, however terminals along the east Sound seeing MVFR cigs due to abundant low level moisture and will likely remain that way into the late morning before improving back to VFR. CLM looks like it may also fall down into MVFR after 12Z, while remaining western terminals trending to remain VFR as per latest data, but would not hurt to monitor, as HQM and OLM typically experience low cigs. Surface winds south/westerly at 8 to 12 kt will become northerly by Sunday afternoon at 4 to 8 kt. KSEA...Cigs lowered a little ahead of schedule with MVFR conditions in place this early morning and will likely stay that way til around 18Z. Still a little instability expected this afternoon, which will give cigs a boost but will also carry shower chances. PoPs remain low and does not look to be enough instability to warrant any thunder mention in the forecast. Surface wind discussion immediately above this section applies. 18
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&& .MARINE...
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Onshore flow will continue as high pressure over the NE Pacific will maintain light to moderate winds over W WA through next week. At this time, flow over the next 24 hours looks light enough to not meet any headline criteria at this time, however, winds could reach 15-20 kts this evening through late tonight in the outer coastal waters and central and eastern portions of the Strait. Seas generally 4 to 6 feet for much of today before increasing to 6 to 8 feet tonight. These will ease throughout the day Monday, getting back to 4 to 6 feet by Monday evening. 18
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&& .SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
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WA...None. PZ...None.
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&& $$