March 11, 2023

Some Saturday sun before a Sunday soaker

By Anthony Edwards

Hi Huskies! 

Happy first day of finals week. Less than a week to go until spring break! 

Saturday began with some light morning rain showers, but we’re in for a little more sunshine this afternoon. Temperatures will approach 50 degrees under partly to mostly cloudy skies. A few showers will linger through the evening hours, but nothing too disruptive. We’ll drop into the upper 30s tonight under mostly clear skies.

Set those clocks forward Sunday morning, as Daylight Saving Time returns. We also welcome back 7 p.m. sunsets, but the later daylight won’t be too noticeable Sunday as we’ve got a wet and dark weather system incoming. 

Sunday into Monday will be one of the wettest periods of the entire winter for Western Washington. Skies will cloud up from south to north during the morning hours Sunday, and moderate rain will move in from the same direction, beginning in the early afternoon for the Seattle metro. High temperatures will be in the upper 40s. 

The rain and clouds will persist through the overnight hours Sunday, keeping temperatures in the mid-40s overnight. Snow levels are likely to be just above Snoqualmie Pass but remain below Stevens Pass. 

The Monday morning commute is likely to be a slow one. With an inch of precipitation expected between noon Sunday and noon Monday, there is also likely to be standing water on the roadway. The heaviest rainfall of the event may come at the end, as the cold front sweeps through the region. This front will enhance precipitation rates and bring gusts upward of 30 mph with it.

Scattered showers will linger through the afternoon Monday and snow levels will dip below pass level again, freshening up the slopes with some white stuff. 

Lowland rain showers and mountain snow showers are in the forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday with daytime highs in the upper 40s, but some weather models are hinting at a drying trend Thursday afternoon into Friday. Temperatures may even reach the mid-50s. Fantastic weather for the start of spring break!

Reach forecaster Anthony Edwards at theuwdawgcast@uw.edu or on Twitter @TheUWDawgcast.