weatherblog

Rainy, breezy Thursday before Memorial Day warm-up

It has been a decent afternoon for most of us but rain is moving in at the north coast and this is the weather system that will bring widespread, yet beneficial rain to the region on Thursday.

Expect most of the rain to hold off for Puget Sound until about 3-6 a.m. Thursday but it’ll be soggy tonight at the coast and up north. Rainfall will continue through the morning tapering to showers by Thursday afternoon. Rainfall amounts will range from a little under a half-inch around Puget Sound to more than an inch at Forks. Given our dry weather in recent months and the upcoming stretch of rain-free warmth, this is good news to tamp down fire concerns a bit going into Memorial Day weekend.

As the rain moves in (and even ahead of it), breezes will be kicking up to the 20-30 mph range later this evening and it will be blustery with the rain on Thursday morning, but no warnings or advisories are out or expected for the wind.

It’ll feel brisk tomorrow with highs in the upper 50s to near 60.

By Friday morning, we’ll have areas of rain tapering off and more sunshine by afternoon, but highs will still stay in the 60s.

High pressure strengthens over the region starting this weekend with mainly sunny skies each day though we could have some morning fog in spots. Highs Saturday and Sunday will be in the upper 60s and 70s. The warmth really kicks in for Memorial Day through Wednesday with highs nearing or touching 80 degrees from about Seattle south.

A lot of people will be out on the water this weekend but the temperature of the water remains chilly with rivers running in the 50s and 60s (but colder nearer the mountains) and Lakes Washington and Sammamish are running just over 60 degrees while Puget Sound water temperature is in the low 50s. Cold weather shock will be a potential for anyone who suddenly falls in. Wear a PFD.