Cloudy skies and cooler-than-normal temperatures will dominate in the week ahead, a continuation of the weather pattern many refer to as “June gloom” for the gray or “Juneuary” when the cloud cover comes with cold air.
It’s the kind of ‘blah’ weather that can disappoint people who expect blue skies in June. But the gray, at least, is pretty typical. KNKX weather expert Cliff Mass says it’s going to stick around for a while.
Mass, a professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Washington, says expect that gray to continue for the next five days or so, with cloudy skies and a little bit of rain.
“But nothing serious,” Mass said, adding that there is a brighter period to look forward to soon.
“Once we get to July Fourth, it all turns around,” he said.
Cloudy Friday
On Friday morning, he said clouds were covering the coastal areas “from roughly Centralia up to the Canadian border,” with showers coming in from the Pacific and bringing lots of showery weather to northwest Washington. He says the cloudiness will stick around all day, with temperatures only reaching the mid- to upper-60s.
“So, an okay day – a little bit cooler than normal,” Mass said.
Over the weekend, he says a series of weak disturbances will come through, keeping the clouds in place all over Western Washington.
Much Cooler Than Normal Starting Saturday
Saturday, expect showers or light sprinkles, with highs in the mid-60s, which is more than ten degrees lower than usual.
“So, way below normal. Normal in Seattle now is about 72,” Mass said.
Sunday he says there will still be lots of clouds around, particularly in the morning, with a few sprinkles likely in most places and heavier precipitation nearer to the mountains.
“I think it will improve a little bit later in the day. But it’s still going to be a cloudy day. Highs in the 60s,” he said.
Mass says more sprinkles and low clouds are in the cards Monday and Tuesday, as a strong upper-level trough moves through, keeping temperatures in the 60s.
Just in time for Independence Day on Wednesday, Mass says a shift in the weather begins.
“The trough moves through, high pressure builds in,” Mass said. “And I think July Fourth will be – you know, a little bit of clouds in the morning and it’ll be decent – getting up into the low 70s.”
Then he says, expect temperatures to start inching back up into the mid- to upper-70s later next week, which is typical for the weather patterns around here. Some even call July Fourth the unofficial start of summer in the greater Puget Sound region.
“So, there’s a major improving trend after July Fourth, which is not unusual here in the northwest,” Mass said.
Weather with Cliff Mass airs at 9:02 a.m. Friday, right after BirdNote, and twice on Friday afternoons during All Things Considered. The feature is hosted by KNKX environment reporter Bellamy Pailthorp. Cliff Mass is a University of Washington professor of atmospheric sciences, a renowned Seattle weather prognosticator, anda popular weather blogger. You can also subscribe to podcasts of Weather with Cliff Mass shows, viaiTunes or Google Play.
