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Lots Of Clouds, But Forecast Is Warm And Dry – Will Seattle Break Its Dry-Day Record?

Tim Durkan
/
Tim Durkan Photography
A "thinking man pondering the sunset" on Seattle's waterfront, July 15th, 2017.

Drizzle and light showers fell in a few places this week, especially in the south end of the Puget Sound region. But for most of the region, including Seattle, rain has been missing for more than a month.

KNKX weather expert Cliff Mass says there’s a good chance the emerald city will break a record with this dry spell.

“The record of consecutive dry days – days without measurable rain, that’s .01 inches – is 51; so, 51 straight days with no rain.

“Right now we’re at 33 days,” Mass said Friday morning. “And we are about to enter the driest time of the year.”

Mass said all the current forecast models show no rain for Seattle for at least another week.

“So I think we have a shot at this.”   

 Week Ahead Will Be Warm And Dry

The forecast for the week ahead is “so close to normal, it’s amazing,” Mass said, with highs around 78-81 for most people around Puget Sound and no real change in the foreseeable future.

“Absolutely typical weather in terms of temperature. And no precipitation is typical too,” Mass said.

He notes the last week of July and first week of August is the driest period of the year in the Puget Sound region, based on meteorological records.

“If you want to do anything outside – plan ahead: This is the period. And I don’t think it’s going to disappoint,” he said.

Mass expects some possible low clouds in the morning each day, but he says they’ll burn off, with temperatures zooming up “in the upper 70s each day. And no rain.”  

“And that’s the forecast. That’s about it.”

To hear an extended forecast, along with Mass's discussion of where in the Pacific Northwest the weather will be best for viewing of the August 21st total eclipse of the sun,  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 iTunesor Google Play.

Bellamy Pailthorp covers the environment for KNKX with an emphasis on climate justice, human health and food sovereignty. She enjoys reporting about how we will power our future while maintaining healthy cultures and livable cities. Story tips can be sent to bpailthorp@knkx.org.