Rain Returns To Puget Sound For A Cool, Wet Weekend

SEATTLE — After a scorching start to June across Western Washington, and recent afternoon highs reaching the upper 80s, there's a cool-off in store for Puget Sound this weekend — along with the welcome return of rain.

This spring has been an unusual one for the Evergreen State, which saw most areas log some of their top 5 driest March through May periods on record. However, this weekend Washington is in for some of the Pacific Northwest's classic ingredients for success: Clouds, rain, and mild temperatures.

COOL, DAMP WEEKEND IN THE OFFING High temperatures will plummet to near 60 degrees tomorrow & Sunday as clouds & showers roll in off the Pacific. Sunday evening in particular could be quite wet.
— Seattle Weather Blog (@KSeattleWeather) June 4, 2021

According to the latest National Weather Service forecasts, a breeze is likely to kick up Saturday behind the front, but serious gusts are not expected. Temperatures will cool into the high 50s to mid-60s across the region, which is below average for this time of the year. Forecasters said there's a solid chance for a Convergence Zone developing, leading to periods of heavier rain between Seattle and Everett. There is also a small chance for a thunderstorm or two developing Saturday afternoon.

On Sunday, conditions are expected to get even wetter, with a quarter-inch of precipitation in some areas and another chance for some isolated thunderstorms, particularly in the Southwest Interior. Forecasters expect the showers will start to taper off Monday while temperatures stay on the cooler side. The first half of the workweek could see a few more sporadic showers, but there's a chance for a slight warming trend returning later next week.

Here's the five-day weather outlook for the Seattle area:

• Saturday: 62°/48° (Rain likely - 70%)
• Sunday: 61°/47° (Rain - 90%)
• Monday: 65°/49° (Chance of rain - 40%)
• Tuesday: 66°/49° (Chance of rain)
• Wednesday: 68°/49° (Slight chance of rain)

In the long term, federal climate experts are predicting a hotter and drier summer, increasing the fire risks and potential for drought conditions to develop in much of the state outside Puget Sound.