945 FXUS66 KSEW 110357 AFDSEWArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Seattle WA 857 PM PDT Wed Sep 10 2025
.SYNOPSIS...Broad upper level troughing will slowly slide east Thursday and Friday, bringing mostly dry conditions to the region that will persist into Saturday. By Sunday, the next weather system will bring a chance for precipitation back to the region.
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.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...Mainly clear skies across the interior this evening with stratus moving into the Southwest Interior and Strait of Juan de Fuca with onshore flow. Stratus will spread into Puget Sound tonight into Thursday morning. No major forecast updates this evening. Previous discussion below.
Fairly quiet conditions today. Low level stratus continues to retreat toward the coast this afternoon. The only additional concern is a 20-30% chance of showers and 10-15% chance of thunderstorms across the central/southern Cascades this afternoon and evening.
As we move into Thursday, upper level ridging will become the dominant feature. We will see an increase in marine stratus Thursday morning as well as the potential for more widespread fog through at least the first part of the day. However, this high pressure will also bring drier conditions and seasonable temperatures that will persist through Saturday.
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.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...Forecast confidence in the details begins to wane as we get into Saturday night and Sunday. There has been a trend towards a more progressive frontal system impacting the region Sunday, bringing a quick shot of precipitation and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Then we may rinse and repeat with temporary high pressure early next week. -Wolcott-
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.AVIATION...Upper level low centered over Northern California will slowly move east tonight and Thursday. Temporary upper level ridge building into Western Washington Thursday night. Northeasterly flow aloft becoming westerly Thursday night. Light onshore flow in the lower levels.
IFR/LIFR stratus already covering most of the lowlands west of the Puget Sound and the I-5 corridor in Southwest Washington. Stratus already down the Strait of Juan de Fuca as well approaching Whidbey Island. Stratus will continue to move inland tonight getting east of the Puget Sound around 12z. Stratus dissipating back to the coast 18z-20z with clear skies over the interior after 20z.
KSEA...Clear skies overnight. Possible back building stratus deck moving off Cascades with ceilings near 4000 feet gets to the terminal before the LIFR stratus does around 13z. Stratus lifting to IFR around 16z and to MVFR around 18z before scattering out 19z-20z. Clear skies into Thursday night. Light and variable wind becoming southwesterly 4 to 6 knots around 12z. Winds trying to come around to northwest 22z-02z but likely ending up in the 250-280 degree range. Felton
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.MARINE...Weak high pressure over the waters with lower pressure east of the Cascades will keep onshore flow pattern going through Friday night. Front moving into the coastal waters Saturday and inland Sunday. High pressure redevelops again for the first part of next week.
Small craft advisory westerly winds in the Central and Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca Thursday night.
Seas will range 4-7 ft, then rise to 6-8 ft through the weekend (low chance for 10 ft waves at this point), but will decrease back to 3-5 ft early next week. Felton
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.SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WA...None. PZ...Small Craft Advisory from 6 PM Thursday to 2 AM PDT Friday for Central U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-East Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca.
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NWS sew Office Area Forecast Discussion