468 FXUS66 KSEW 062151 AFDSEWArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Seattle WA 251 PM PDT Mon Oct 6 2025
.SYNOPSIS...Dry and warmer conditions will continue across western Washington through Tuesday with high pressure over the region. The next upper trough then approaches and arrives around Wednesday, ushering stronger onshore flow and cooler conditions into the area. Another disturbance crosses the region into the weekend, maintaining cooler conditions with precipitation chances and bringing lowering snow levels for the higher Cascade elevations.
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.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...Mostly sunny skies over the region this afternoon with high pressure in place overhead. Light offshore flow is continuing to spread some elevated smoke aloft from regional fires across the local area. Otherwise, no much in the way of weather impacts but temperatures well into the 60s this afternoon. Expect a few spots to top out in the 70s, especially from around central Puget Sound southward and in the Cascade valleys. Not much change tomorrow with the ridge remaining overhead and temperatures trending a few degrees warmer, though the offshore low-level flow begins to ease through the day.
The ridge weakens and shifts eastward Wednesday with the next disturbance moving into the region. This will knock temperatures back down into the upper 50s to around 60 degrees and bring plenty of clouds into the region. Expect some showers to increase, but rainfall looks rather light along the coast and in the mountains and even less prominent elsewhere.
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.LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...Ensemble guidance remains in reasonable agreement with a more active pattern emerging late in the week and especially over the weekend with a deeper trough offshore. Some interaction with remnant tropical moisture from the Pacific may increase precipitation chances at times Thursday and Friday, but there`s not a clear signal for a big soaking of rain during this time. This begins to shift over the weekend with guidance clustering around a deeper trough sliding across the region. This will likely usher in more widespread precipitation and cooler conditions. With this system, expect to see snow levels dropping down below 6000 ft and the potential for some accumulating snowfall in the higher Cascades. Latest guidance would suggest around a 40% chance of snow at Stevens Pass (though amounts would generally be rather light below 6000 ft or so) and around a 3-5% chance of snow falling down to Snoqualmie Pass. Given this, far from a sure thing, but a sign of the changing season and a good reminder for those who plan to head to the higher Cascade elevations to remain aware of the weather and prepared for conditions.
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.AVIATION...An upper-ridge over the region is leading to northerly flow aloft. Subsidence provided by the aforementioned ridge has brought VFR conditions across W WA this afternoon with the trend leading into tonight. Mostly clear skies into Tuesday however, there is a slight chance (20-25%) of IFR to LIFR conditions developing over fields such as KHQM and KOLM where patchy low clouds and fog could develop. If manifests, the threat will be short-lived as VFR conditions are confident to resettle area-wide by 16z Tuesday. Light low-level offshore flow turning more onshore on Tuesday as well ahead of an incoming front arriving overnight.
KSEA...VFR at the terminal this afternoon and is expected throughout the upcoming TAF period. NBM guidance is hinting at fog/low stratus impacting the airfield after 13z Tuesday, with a 20% chance of LIFR to IFR developing. If it develops, the activity should subside by 17z-18z at the latest. Northerly winds this afternoon 7-10 kt. Winds will shift again northeasterly overnight to 2-5 kt then again towards the WNW on Tuesday afternoon.
McMillian
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.MARINE...Currently, a broad area of high pressure over the NE PAC exists along with a surface thermal trough extending northward along the West Coast. This has lead to light offshore flow recently however, a flow reversal is in store. Onshore flow looks to return on Tuesday as a frontal system draws near. With it, small craft winds are possible for the coastal waters Tuesday evening into Wednesday. The latest NBM and HREF probabilities suggest a 50-100% chance of sustained winds exceeding 21 kt. The highest probabilities are for the outer coastal waters. Wave heights with this system will increase to 8-11 ft around this time with the largest waves over the outer coastal waters. Seas will subside Wednesday afternoon to 5-7 ft and will continue decreasing into Friday to 3-5 ft. Additional systems may move over the waters late in the week. However, the latest guidance suggests marine impacts will be minimal at this time.
McMillian
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.FIRE WEATHER...Offshore flow will continue to develop across western Washington today as high pressure builds over the region. Elevated fire concerns will be present today into Tuesday due to low RH values and breezy winds for Zones 658, 659, 652, and the northwest portion of 661(west slopes WA Cascades and Olympics) but the recent rains have kept fuel conditions below critical thresholds. The high pressure ridge will shift eastward overnight tonight into Tuesday, generating occasionally breezy easterly winds in the eastern Olympics and through the Cascade gaps tonight into Tuesday morning. Relative humidity recoveries were poor in the mountains with locations in the western Olympics diving into the upper teens at times overnight. Relative humidities are expected to return to the 20% to 30% range later this afternoon with limited recovery overnight into Tuesday morning. The wind shift to onshore westerlies and rising relative humidity will develop from the coast eastward to the Cascade crest tonight through tomorrow morning. Relative humidities will continue to improve into next weekend as chances for precipitation increase.
JBB/15
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.SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WA...None. PZ...None.
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NWS SEW Office Area Forecast Discussion