613 FXUS66 KSEW 172132 AFDSEWArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Seattle WA 232 PM PDT Wed Sep 17 2025
.SYNOPSIS...Mild weather conditions across western Washington through the remainder of the week with onshore flow. A low pressure system will move into the region Saturday, bringing widespread rain and breezy winds. Conditions are favored to dry out early next week.
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.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...Cooler today and in the 60s and 70s with onshore flow. There are a few 80s in the Cascade foothills but not 90s like we saw yesterday. Most notable on satellite is the large smoke plume from the Bear Gulch fire in the SE Olympics. Most of the smoke is aloft but there are a few pockets of degraded air quality.
Weak troughing remains over the region on Thursday for more dry and mild weather. Winds at 850mb switch to northerly which will bring Bear Gulch wildfire smoke down south, possibly impacting areas like Shelton. Expect patchy morning low clouds with afternoon sunbreaks.
We`re under broad, flat, ridging on Friday for one more dry and mild day. The flow remains onshore with temperatures close to average.
Wet weather returns on Saturday as the next frontal system moves inland. The interior will be dry in the morning, then rain increasing during the afternoon and evening. The coast and mountains will see wetting rains through Saturday night thus keeping the fire weather threat low. 33
.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...Showers linger into Sunday under moist, westerly, flow. We may see showers with a convergence zone over the central sound Sunday afternoon. A blocking ridge over the Intermountain West keeps western WA mainly dry moving into Monday and Tuesday. The surface flow is light with temperatures close to average. Some moisture advects north and into the region by midweek for showers. 33
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.AVIATION...VFR across the interior terminals this afternoon and will persist throughout the day. Coastal terminals will likely remain MVFR today. Another push of low stratus is expected overnight, affecting interior terminals. Ceilings are expected to lower down to MVFR generally after 12Z-14Z. There is a small chance of seeing IFR (15-30%) and LIFR (10-20%) for the interior terminals. As for the coast, conditions will likely deteriorate to IFR/LIFR. Improvement to VFR expected after 19Z-21Z, with the coast being last to improve. With wind direction shifting to a W/NW direction, it should keep the smoke from the Bear Gulch fire in the Olympics away from KCLM today. However, may see some of the smoke drift towards BLI. Breezy winds this afternoon 8-14 kt, with gusts up to 20 kt this evening between 01Z-06Z. Winds will ease overnight.
KSEA...VFR conditions will persist the rest of today. Low stratus is expected to impact the terminal overnight, lowering conditions to MVFR. Guidance hints at a low chance of seeing IFR (20%) and LIFR (10%). Improvement into VFR expected after 19z-20z. Breezy NW winds this afternoon 8-11 kt. Winds will become more NE tonight (after 5Z- 6Z) at 8-14 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt this evening are possible between 02Z-06Z. Winds will ease off after 10Z-11Z to around 4-5 kt, remaining NE. Winds shift back NW late Thursday morning.
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.MARINE...Surface high pressure will continue to build over area waters through Friday with lower pressure inland, promoting onshore flow. A westerly push across the Strait of Juan de Fuca is expected this afternoon/evening with gusts up to 25 kt. A Small Craft Advisory remains in effect for the central and eastern portions of the Strait through early Thursday morning. In addition, northwesterly winds over the coastal waters will increase this evening into Thursday, for which a Small Craft Advisory is also currently in effect.
A low pressure system is expected to move over the waters this weekend. Guidance is hinting at a strong push through the Strait of Juan de Fuca Saturday evening into Sunday morning. In addition, winds may approach small craft thresholds over the northern inland waters, with currently probabilities at 30-60% of exceeding 21 kt.
Seas will continue to build to 8-10 ft through Thursday. In addition, seas will be seep with a dominant period of 10 to 11 seconds. Seas will subside starting on Friday to 4-6 ft and will build again on Sunday to 7-9 ft.
29/15
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.FIRE WEATHER...Weak onshore flow pattern in the lower levels will keep minimum relative humidity values well above critical levels through Friday. Frontal system arriving over the weekend with wetting rains possible along the coast as well as North and Central Washington Cascades Saturday night into Sunday. Felton
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.SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WA...None. PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 2 AM PDT Thursday for Central U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-East Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca.
Small Craft Advisory until 5 PM PDT Thursday for Coastal Waters From Cape Flattery To James Island 10 To 60 Nm-Coastal Waters From Cape Flattery To James Island Out 10 Nm-Coastal Waters From James Island To Point Grenville 10 To 60 Nm- Coastal Waters From James Island To Point Grenville Out 10 Nm-Coastal Waters From Point Grenville To Cape Shoalwater 10 To 60 Nm-Coastal Waters From Point Grenville To Cape Shoalwater Out 10 Nm.
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NWS SEW Office Area Forecast Discussion