It is a week of extremes in the weather department.  Today is all about the mild heavy rain before a weekend cool down brings the chance of lowland snow.  

We have warm, wet, and windy storm hitting Western Washington on this Tuesday.  Rain will be widespread and steady throughout the day with gusty winds at times.  Check out the plume of moisture on the satellite image… it is aimed directly at us.  The heaviest precipitation will be focused over the Cascade Mountains where 4 to 8 inches of rainfall is forecast through tomorrow.  Around the sound, the heaviest rain will be focused north of Seattle and south of Tacoma with 0.5 to 1.5 inches expected.  The Cascade foothills will see a good soaking with 1 to 2 inches for most spots.  Sitting in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains, the lightest rain will be focused around Seattle and the Kitsap Peninsula.  The weather phenomenon that gives Sequim its dry reputation will be focused around the central sound.  Anywhere between a trace and a half inch is forecast.  Cities like Silverdale and Bremerton will likely see less than a tenth of an inch.  

The snow level over the mountains is rising to 7,000 feet today with persistent rainfall.  With several inches of rain expected, there will be a lot of runoff into our local rivers.  A Flood Watch takes effect at 4 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.   Rivers flowing off the North and Central Cascades will be most susceptible to flooding over the next 48 hours.    

Steady rain turns over to showers as rivers begin cresting on Wednesday.  It will remain breezy with the strongest wind through the Strait of Juan de Fuca; gusts in excess of 50 mph are expected.  After a few morning showers, Thursday dries out with some afternoon sunbreaks. 

Cooling into the weekend

After warm rain today, the opportunity for lowland snow will be here as early as Friday morning.  Another storm moves in Friday, packing increasing precipitation across our area.  With cold enough air in place early in the morning, a brief shot of lowland snow is possible.  Everybody will have the opportunity for some Friday morning flakes before rapidly turning over to rain later in the morning and afternoon.  The heaviest snow looks to be focused north of Everett with the best chance of minor accumulation.  Any accumulation will melt with afternoon rain and temperatures in the mid to upper 40s. 

The opportunity for a few lowland snowflakes will remain in the weekend forecast.  We’ll stay cool with low 40s and upper 30s this weekend.  The chance of a few rain/snow showers are in the forecast Saturday and Sunday.  This is not expected to be a major snow event.

-Sam Argier, Morning Meteorologist