Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Seattle/Tacoma, WA

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880 FXUS66 KSEW 180324 AFDSEW Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Seattle WA 824 PM PDT Tue Sep 17 2024 .SYNOPSIS...Clouds and rain chances increase across the region tonight ahead of an approaching frontal system. Lingering rain showers into Wednesday, especially in a potential Puget Sound Convergence Zone, as the upper trough pushes eastward. A break in the rain and clouds for Thursday, but this will be brief as additional rounds of unsettled conditions will continue through the weekend and into early next week. && .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
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No significant changes to the forecast this evening. The previous discussion can be found below along with updated aviation and marine sections: A rather cool and cloudy evening is underway across Western Washington. NWS radar depicts increasing rain offshore and extending eastward into the Olympic Peninsula already. This will continue to advance eastward through the night, with the highest rainfall accumulations (around half an inch) expected west of Puget Sound and in the Cascades. The bulk of the actions pushes through the region overnight, but as the upper trough pushes south and east, expect strengthening onshore flow to bring some light drizzle or rain through the morning. Meanwhile, some lingering showers are likely to develop in a Puget Sound Convergence Zone early Wednesday. Expect a lull in the clouds and rain showers late Wednesday through Thursday with weak high pressure somewhat building over the region. The next disturbance is likely to arrive (or at least approach) by Friday, bringing another increase in cloud cover and cooler temperatures. .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...The weekend will continue with a decidedly fall-like pattern as zonal flow aloft sets up and keeps the door open for a series of disturbances through the first half of next week. This will maintain abundant cloud cover and rain at times, while temperatures hold below seasonal normals. Will need to monitor the evolution of these features as subtle shifts in the storms can yield significant shifts in where the moisture sets up and the resulting impacts in clouds and temperatures. This is reflected in the probabilistic NBM guidance exhibiting some quite large spreads in values as we get into the early part of next week. 12
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&& .AVIATION...
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Light flow aloft will become northerly as an upper low continues to slide southward along the coast and out of the area. Widespread MVFR cigs this evening generally King CO southward, with areas of IFR cigs along the coast. Rain continues to slowly dissipate along the Olympic Peninsula, with patchy drizzle into southern Puget Sound. A few showers or areas of drizzle may linger Wednesday morning, but mostly dry conditions expected. Cigs will lower further again tonight into Wednesday morning, with MVFR/IFR for the interior, and LIFR/IFR along the coast. Cigs will slowly improve to SCT/BKN VFR cigs late Wednesday afternoon into Wednesday evening, although lower cigs may continue along the coast. Light winds tonight will increase from N/NW Wednesday afternoon. KSEA...MVFR cigs this evening with periods of drizzle. Cigs will remain MVFR through the majority of tonight, mainly ranging 1000 to 2000 feet. IFR cigs are then expected Wednesday morning (mostly between 12 to 18z), before slow improvement to MVFR late Wednesday morning, and SCT/BKN VFR by late Wednesday afternoon. Light winds tonight will increase to N/NW between 4 to 7 kts for Wednesday afternoon. JD
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&& .MARINE...A weak surface low passing to the southwest this afternoon and evening will result in gusty easterly winds over the coastal waters into this evening before easing overnight. Offshore surface high pressure returns Thursday into Friday helping boost northwesterlies and possible small craft advisory levels with combined seas rising to 7-9 feet late in the week, particularly across the outer coastal waters. && .SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WA...None. PZ...None. && $$