Washington Weather: Sustained Wind, Strong Gusts, More Rain

SEATTLE — Dry and warm weather is on the horizon, if western Washington can power through a few more days of rain.

A new system will be moving across the region Saturday, bringing with it some showers and gusty weather. Unlike Thursday, no thunderstorms are predicted and rainfall should be limited to one inch or less for much of Puget Sound.

However, forecasters warn there is a high chance for localized flooding in some urban areas overnight as showers continue. River levels will also likely remain high through the weekend, but they are unlikely to flood.

Despite the lighter rains, officials warn that many roads will be slick, and commuters should remember to keep that in mind— and hopefully avoid a situation like Thursday afternoon, where spin-outs caused dozens of high-profile accidents across the area.

As the rain cools off Thursday night and into Friday, the winds will be picking up. Winds are expected to begin building up near midnight, peaking between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m. Friday, then calming down throughout the rest of the day. Winds will be strongest along the coast, lowlands and the islands north of Everett, with sustained winds reaching 30 to 35 mph in Westport and Bellingham. Closer to Puget Sound, winds will remain within the 15 to 25 mph range, but gusts are possible up to 40.

The wind shouldn't pose significant problems for those who live inland, but the NWS says it will cause high waves, which in turn can cause erosion or other issues along the coast.

But if Washington can tough it out Friday, it'll be relatively smoother sailing through the weekend. Saturday, forecasters expect the winds to ease off, with only a few scattered showers remaining. Sunday there is a 30 to 40 percent chance of rain and mostly cloudy skies, and then the real fun begins Monday when skies are expected to part and give way to warmer temperatures in the low 70s, building into the mid 70s for Wednesday and Thursday next week.