Weather Synopsis for Thursday & Friday

Thursday will be very slightly milder than Wednesday. Temperatures start the day in the mid-20s through low 30s at most NWAC stations. The remnants of an upper low continue to rotate decreasing rain and snow shower activity in our region on Thursday. The focus of morning scattered showers will be on the southern Olympics and Mt Baker areas, driven by weak instability S winds. These winds were locally in the moderate range around Mt Baker early Thursday morning around Mt Baker but should decrease along with the shower activity, which becomes isolated or tapers off in the afternoon. S or W winds in other areas remain light. A ridge over the interior builds into the region, bringing partly cloudy skies by the afternoon along with 5000-6000 ft freezing levels.

Thursday night, weak ridging remains the dominant influence. The remnant closed low joins a broader upper low off the California Coastline. That low will be far enough away to allow skies to clear across most of our region overnight. Expect light ridgeline winds and some very light E winds through the gaps.

On Friday, freezing levels start the day in the 2500-4500 ft range. Weak ridging continues, allowing for more mostly sunny skies. Freezing levels rise to 5000-7000 ft in the afternoon. Light W winds gradually increase as the ridge flattens, beginning the gradual transition to a pattern shift with WNW flow and weather for the latter half of the weekend.