Heavy rain hit many parts of western Washington overnight and into Friday morning – a change welcomed by many, after what was reportedly the state’s third-driest and third-hottest summer of the century.
KNKX weather expert Cliff Mass says Friday morning’s downpour was much-needed.
“This was the heaviest rain we’ve had all summer. Some places it was really pouring. And that’s important because that gets water into the soil. So that’s going to make a big difference for the plants,” he said.
Be Ready: More Rain This Weekend
Mass says expect things to stay quite damp in the days ahead.
“I’m afraid that this weekend looks like a pretty showery one,” he said.
“Not all of the time, but we have an upper level trough that’s over us. It’s going to be reinforced on Sunday. And that’s going to bring on-and-off showers, maybe even a few thunderstorms in western Washington and on the west side of the Cascades.”
Mass says if you want to see dry weather, head to the other side of the mountains.
Temperatures will only hit the lower 60s at the highest this weekend, he predicts, so you’ll want to keep some extra layers around.
“You know, we may have a few periods where the sun breaks through, but showers will follow pretty soon after,” he said.
Better Next Week
If wet weather gets you down, hang in there.
“Fortunately, next week, there’s an improving trend,” Mass said.
He says the trough of low pressure that’s causing the showers will move out as high pressure builds in on Monday and Tuesday.
“So I think Monday through Thursday will probably be pretty much dry – temperatures moving up to the mid-60s, maybe upper 60s,” Mass said.
So it will be pleasant, but Mass says the big features of the past summer are gone for good.
“Forget about heat waves – no heat waves. No smoke in western Washington,” he said. “We’ve made the transition and we are not going back.”
To hear the full conversation, including Cliff’s assessment of the forecasting skill for Hurricane Florence and how the frequency of hurricane landfalls is actually on a downward trend, you can click on the 'play' icon at the top of this post.
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, and a popular weather blogger. You can also subscribe to podcasts of Weather with Cliff Mass shows, via iTunes or Google Play
