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Warmest temperatures of 2018 this week?

Happy Tuesday!  We have a few more high clouds over the area this morning with temps in the 30s, 40s and 50s.

High pressure aloft and offshore flow are both contributing to dry, clear and warmer weather the next few days.  Daytime highs Tuesday and Wednesday will be well into the 70s in Seattle with temperatures near 80 along the Cascade foothills of Pierce and Thurston counties.  The record for today is 76° and that is exactly where I expect Seattle to be this afternoon.

We'll be breezy in the morning in the foothills with wind gusts over 30 mph.  Elsewhere it could be a little breezy at times, but nothing significant.

Thursday will be peak heat as a thermal trough will extend along the coast and Olympic peninsula. This axis of low pressure will induce stronger offshore flow for Puget Sound and should allow us to warm up a few more degrees to the upper 70s to lower 80s.  The record high for Seattle Thursday is 82 degrees and I expect we'll be close.

The thermal trough moves inland Thursday night, and that will increase onshore flow.  We'll wake up Friday to some gloom, clouds and that will lead to a much cooler day back in the 60s.

Some rain will be around at times with mainly cloudy skies this weekend. Highs will be back cooler than normal -- in the 50s.