Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Seattle/Tacoma, WA

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577 FXUS66 KSEW 071021 AFDSEW Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Seattle WA 321 AM PDT Tue May 7 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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An upper level trough will exit the region today and a ridge of high pressure aloft will begin to build into the area on Wednesday. The upper ridge will strengthen toward the end of the week as thermally induced low pressure near the surface expands northward into the area. Dry conditions will prevail along with the warmest temperatures of the year thus far on Friday and Saturday. A weak system passing to the north of the area will bring a minor cooling trend Sunday into Monday.
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&& .SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
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The convergence zone had shifted into King County as of 130 AM PDT this morning and will continue to gradually shift south and eastward before dissipating over the Cascades later this morning. A few showers will linger into the afternoon mainly over the mountains as the upper trough responsible for the recent cool, wet conditions finally shifts east of the area. And then the change begins. Upper ridging offshore begins to build into the area tonight and Wednesday. Sunshine returns to the area on Wednesday as high temperatures rebound to near seasonal levels under the influence of the building ridge. The upper ridge centered just offshore continues to build on Thursday as 500 millibar heights approach 580 dam for the first time since...well, I can`t remember when. At the same time, thermally induced low pressure expanding northward along the Oregon coast reaches the area. This will turn the low level flow offshore with coastal areas experiencing a significant boost in temperature. Hoquiam and Forks should have no problem reaching the mid 70s (or higher) on Thursday afternoon. Interior areas will warm up as well...with lower to mid 70s common from the Seattle area southward. .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...The upper ridge axis shifts onshore on Friday while the thermal trough remains oriented along the coast. This will likely be the warmest day for the coast...with highs reaching the lower to mid 80s...which is daily record territory. Plentiful sunshine will be found regionwide with mid 70s to mid 80s across the interior lowlands. Models have the thermal trough shifting inland by later in the day on Friday. Coastal areas should see 15 to 20 degrees of cooling for Saturday, but the thermal trough will produce another warm day for interior locations. A weak system passing to our north is expected to dent the ridge Sunday into Monday. Aside from a slight chance of mountain showers near the Canadian border, conditions look to remain dry with temperatures in the 60s and 70s...still above seasonal norms for the time of year. 27
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&& .AVIATION...
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Upper level trough moving east this morning. Upper level ridge offshore building inland beginning this afternoon and continuing into Wednesday. Northwesterly flow aloft. High pressure offshore with low level onshore flow. Convergence zone over King County moving into the Cascades early this morning. MVFR ceilings Seattle northward improving to VFR 16z-19z. For the remainder of the area, VFR ceilings with local MVFR ceilings until 15z. Decreasing clouds after 03z. KSEA...MVFR ceilings improving to VFR 16z-18z. VFR ceilings continuing into Wednesday morning. Southwest wind 4 to 8 knots becoming southerly after 16z. Northwest wind 4 to 8 knots beginning around 23z. Felton
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&& .MARINE...
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High pressure over the waters through Wednesday night. Thermally induced low pressure moving up the coast Thursday will shift over the inland waters Friday and east of the Cascades Saturday. High pressure will remain over the outer coastal waters through Saturday. Small craft westerly winds in the Strait of Juan de Fuca at times through Wednesday. Small craft northwesterly winds Admiralty Inlet tonight. Seas 10 feet today subsiding to 9 feet tonight and 6 or 7 feet Wednesday. Felton
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&& .HYDROLOGY...No river flooding expected in the next 7 days. && .SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
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WA...None. PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 8 PM PDT this evening for Central U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-Coastal Waters From Cape Flattery To James Island 10 To 60 Nm-Coastal Waters From Cape Flattery To James Island Out 10 Nm-Coastal Waters From James Island To Point Grenville 10 To 60 Nm-Coastal Waters From James Island To Point Grenville Out 10 Nm-Coastal Waters From Point Grenville To Cape Shoalwater 10 To 60 Nm- Coastal Waters From Point Grenville To Cape Shoalwater Out 10 Nm-East Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca. Small Craft Advisory until 5 AM PDT early this morning for Admiralty Inlet. Small Craft Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 8 PM PDT this evening for Admiralty Inlet.
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&& $$