


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Seattle/Tacoma, WA
Issued by NWS Seattle/Tacoma, WA
491 FXUS66 KSEW 101521 AFDSEW Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Seattle WA 821 AM PDT Sun Aug 10 2025 .SYNOPSIS...High pressure will continue to build into the region through early next week, bringing a warming and drying trend. Widespread Moderate (Orange) HeatRisk will continue across the lowlands through Tuesday, and a Heat Advisory remains in effect across the lowlands. An upper trough will move into the area towards the second half of next week, bringing in cooler and cloudier conditions with increasing chances for rain. && .UPDATE...Clear skies are in place across western WA this morning with the exception of some localized smoke from the Bear Gulch fire in Mason County and fog in the lower Chehalis River Valley and Grays Harbor (which will burn off this morning). The current forecast is on track an no updates are planned this morning. -Wolcott- && .SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...A ridge of high pressure centered over the Pacific will continue to amplify through the short-term, resulting in warm and dry conditions across western Washington. Fog and low stratus has set up along the Pacific Coast and through the Strait of Juan de Fuca early this morning, but will burn off by the afternoon with clear skies and warming resuming across the region. Temperatures today will reach the mid to upper 80s across much of the lowlands, with pockets of 90 degrees across the Chehalis River Basin southwest of Olympia. This will result in widespread Moderate (Orange) HeatRisk across the lowlands, and elevated overnight low temperatures in the upper 50s to low 60s will provide little relief to the daytime heat. A Heat Advisory remains in effect across most lowland areas for Sunday afternoon, and the Advisory continues through Tuesday evening as temperatures will remain elevated. Warming will continue on Monday as high pressure continues to build into western Washington. As a thermal trough forms along the coast, Monday will be the warmest day for coastal areas. Temperatures will increase into the upper 80s and low 90s across the region, with the warmest temperatures southwest of the Puget Sound and southward along the I-5 corridor. Clear skies and light winds will prevail once again, with even warmer overnight lows in the mid 60s for much of the lowlands. The thermal trough will shift inland on Tuesday, resulting in even warmer temperatures across the interior lowlands and subtle cooling along the coast. While some uncertainty remains over temperatures on Tuesday, ensembles maintain high chances of 90 degrees or higher across the metro areas east and south of the Puget Sound. Ensembles show a moderate (60% to 70%) chance of reaching 90 degrees on Tuesday in Seattle, and a higher (70% to 80%) chance of 90 degrees or higher in Olympia. The warmest temperatures are on track to occur south of the Puget Sound and along the Cascade Foothills, with continued widespread Moderate HeatRisk across the lowlands. .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...While forecast models continue to struggle to predict the breakdown of the upper ridge, most ensemble members show a pattern change by Wednesday with a trough moving over the Pacific Northwest. This will bring temperatures back to near-normal, peaking in the upper 70s across the lowlands and in the mid to upper 60s along the coast. Increased onshore flow will promote continued cooler temperatures and periods of cloudy skies through the remainder of the week as a series of troughs is set to pass over the region. Chances for rainfall increase Thursday through Saturday, primarily over higher terrain, but the exact placement and intensity remains uncertain at this time. 15 && .AVIATION...Upper level ridge with northwesterly flow aloft into Monday. Northwesterly surface gradients today going light tonight into Monday as thermally induced surface trough moves up the coastline then inland Monday. The fog has began to scatter out of KHQM this morning and conditions have improved. IFR/LIFR stratus returning to the coast after 02z-03z tonight. Otherwise, VFR will prevail for the rest of the terminals today. KSEA...Mostly clear skies today, with VFR prevailing. Northeast wind 6 to 10 knots this morning becoming north northwest 10 to 12 knots around 18z-19z. Winds easing to northeast 4 to 8 knots after 04z tonight. Felton/29 && .MARINE...High pressure will remain over the coastal waters through Wednesday. A thermally induced surface trough will move up the coastline tonight then shift inland Monday and Tuesday. High pressure will weaken Wednesday with a weak trough moving into the coastal waters Thursday. Small Craft Advisory for the outer coastal waters today for choppy seas at 7 or 8 feet with 8 to 9 second period, with winds increasing to 15 to 25 knots and seas building to 10 feet tonight. On Monday, seas will continue building to 10 to 13 feet. Strong possibility that small craft advisory conditions will continue over the outer coastal waters until at least Tuesday night. Small craft advisory westerlies possible for the Central and Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca Tuesday. Felton && .FIRE WEATHER...A warming and drying trend will continue today through Tuesday as an upper level ridge builds over the area and a weak resultant thermal trough develops along the coast. This will allow for minimum RH values today through Tuesday to dip as low as 25-35%, with the lowest RH values from the south Puget Sound, the southwest interior, and the southern Washington Cascades. A shortwave trough looks to move through late Sunday into Monday, and along with the thermal trough, will result in poorer RH recoveries and may slightly increased atmospheric instability, potentially resulting in more activity on our ongoing fires. More persistent troughing is expected to develop into Wednesday, allowing for cooler and more moist air to return to the region with a slight chance for light showers for portions of the North Cascades and the Pacific coast beginning Thursday. 62 && .SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WA...Heat Advisory from 2 PM this afternoon to 10 PM PDT Tuesday for City of Seattle-Downtown Everett / Marysville Area- Eastern Kitsap County-Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca- Eastside-Foothills and Valleys of Central King County- Foothills and Valleys of Pierce and Southern King Counties-Foothills and Valleys of Snohomish and Northern King Counties-Foothills and Valleys of Thurston and Lewis Counties-Foothills and Valleys of the North Cascades- Foothills of the Western and Southern Olympic Peninsula- Lake Crescent Area Including US 101-Lower Chehalis River Valley-Lowlands of Lewis and Southern Thurston Counties- Lowlands of Pierce and Southern King Counties-Lowlands of Western Skagit and Northwestern Snohomish Counties- Lowlands of Western Whatcom County-Middle Chehalis River Valley-Northern Hood Canal-Olympia and Southern Puget Sound-Shoreline / Lynnwood / South Everett Area-Southern Hood Canal-Willapa and Black Hills. PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 6 PM PDT Monday for Coastal Waters From Cape Flattery To James Island 10 To 60 Nm-Coastal Waters From James Island To Point Grenville 10 To 60 Nm- Coastal Waters From Point Grenville To Cape Shoalwater 10 To 60 Nm. && $$