416 FXUS66 KSEW 122210 AFDSEWArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Seattle WA 310 PM PDT Fri Sep 12 2025
.SYNOPSIS...Weak high pressure over the region through Saturday. A cold front will then move through Saturday night into Sunday, with rain and showers. Warmer and drier conditions develop early next week. Additional troughing towards the second half of next week is possible.
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.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/...Transient ridging aloft as the next incoming disturbance sits well offshore. Marine stratus is gradually scattering this afternoon but widespread coverage still remains with mostly cloudy skies prevalent for Puget Sound, southwest interior and the coast. For tonight, the aforementioned ridge axis will track directly overhead with mostly dry conditions. Can`t rule out areas of drizzle squeezing out of developing marine stratus and patchy fog. Overnight lows are to bottom into the lower to mid 50s.
Upper-level progression will lead into Saturday as the ridge cross east of the Cascades. Morning clouds will start the day yet again but should give way to afternoon sunshine. However, high clouds are slated to build overhead Saturday night as a precursor of the next rain maker. A cold front will arrive at the coast by early Sunday morning, spreading precipitation as the day progress. Total rainfall amounts range from 0.25-0.50" along the mountains to around 0.10-0.25" for the lowlands. The air mass will be slightly unstable with a chance of thunderstorms too.
A few showers possible into Monday morning as a lingering convergence zone fizzles out. Drier weather rebounds across the region as ridging returns. Seasonal temperatures will cool down Sunday into Monday and trend slightly below average for mid- September.
.LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...Drier weather is favored to persist into Tuesday. Highs Tuesday and Wednesday will reach the mid to upper 70s with a few low 80s possible. Critical fire weather conditions remain low with higher humidities, particularly into Tuesday as offshore looks to return briefly. A trough may bring cooler and wetter conditions moving toward the end of the week.
McMillian
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.AVIATION...An upper level ridge will pass over western WA today into Saturday. The flow aloft will be weak, but will increase out of the south late Saturday as a trough/cold front approach from the west. MVFR cigs will continue to scatter between 21-23Z, with light north winds increasing to 4-8 kt this afternoon`evening (some terminals close to the Strait of Juan de Fuca may see 6-12 kt). Light & variable winds tonight (along with the marine layer returning tonight) has increased probabilities/likelihood of low IFR/LIFR stratus and fog returning into a majority of terminals tonight/Saturday morning. Highest confidence is coastal, south and north interior terminals (with medium confidence that Puget Sound terminals will see lower cigs and vis). Clearing will take place 18- 21Z with light southwest winds 4-8 kt Saturday.
KSEA...Satellite showing a scattering of MVFR cigs to the north of the terminal continuing southward - this will likely upgrade conditions to VFR by 22-23Z. Winds will continue to solidify to northwest 4-8 kt and become light & variable out of the south tonight with low stratus most likely arriving as early as 12-14Z Saturday morning, and clearing by 18-21Z. Some low vis may accompany the stratus at times. Clearing to take place 18-21Z, with winds becoming southwest 4-6 kt by Saturday afternoon.
HPR
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.MARINE...Onshore flow will continue through Friday night with weak high pressure remaining over the waters (and lower pressure inland). A few areas may see fog tonight (especially in the coastal waters and the Strait of Juan de Fuca). A cold front will approach the coastal waters Saturday, and cross inland Sunday. Probabilities have increased for a period of wind gusts exceeding 20 kt in the coastal waters and Strait of Juan de Fuca Sunday - will continue to monitor for a possible small craft advisory. Once the front passes, onshore flow will return Tuesday, with some models indicating another possible system midweek.
Seas will build to 6-8 ft through the weekend (with the period dropping to 8-10 seconds on Sunday), but wave heights will decrease down to 4-6 ft next week.
HPR
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.SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WA...None. PZ...None. &&
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NWS SEW Office Area Forecast Discussion