Here comes the sun, Seattle
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Illustration: Maura Losch, Lindsey Bailey/Axios
After weeks of rain and cooler than average temperatures, sunny and dry weather is expected to herald spring into Western Washington this week.
Why it matters: Daytime highs will reach into the mid-60s and possibly brush up against 70 on Saturday in some regions of Puget Sound, particularly in the Cascade foothills, National Weather Service Seattle meteorologist Anna Lindeman told Axios.
- It will start drying out Wednesday afternoon and remain dry through at least Tuesday next week, she said.
The high on Saturday, likely to be the warmest day of the coming stretch, is expected to be 66 degrees, Lindeman said, but there's a 10–20% chance Seattle could hit 72 degrees, the record high for the date set in 1947.
- Sunday will be almost as warm, Lindeman said.
- By Monday, things will start to cool down, with forecast highs of 63 on Monday and 60 on Tuesday, but it will remain fair and clear, per the weather service.
What they're saying: It'll be a major change from Tuesday's blustery weather, said Michael Fagin, a forecaster for Pacific Northwest ski resorts.
Threat level: New snow at the beginning of the week and higher temperatures by the end will lure skiers to the slopes but also increase avalanche risk, Fagin told Axios.
- Be sure to check in with the Northwest Avalanche Center and plan to ski inbound at your favorite resort rather than heading to the backcountry, he said.
Of note: Don't pack away your winter wear quite yet. Denizens of the region are familiar with the trickery of "faux spring" and know the month of June-uary is called that for a reason.