Showers on Friday, Brief Cooldown Expected

 FastCast--Thursday, June 8 to Tuesday, June 13:

After a hot day on Wednesday, with temperatures reaching the mid to upper 80s across the lowlands, cooler and cloudier weather is ahead for Thursday, Friday, and early Saturday, before temperatures rise again from Sunday onward. Expect mostly cloudy conditions due to high clouds for the remainder of Thursday, with highs reaching the mid 70s. Friday will bring a chance of showers to the lowlands, with showers moving from SE to NW. Showers are most likely early Friday morning and then again late Friday evening into early Saturday morning. Most areas will likely get some rain, with the most likely amounts being 0.1-0.25". Some isolated areas will get higher or lower amounts. The coast and areas from Kelso southward will likely get a trace to 0.1" of rain. Highs on Friday will plummet to the low 60s. Temperatures will rebound into the upper 60s to low 70s on Saturday, with morning clouds and afternoon sun. Warmer conditions continue on Sunday, with sunny skies and highs in the upper 70s to low 80s, then even warmer on Monday, likely in the low to mid 80s. Temperatures will decrease with partly cloudy skies and highs in the mid to upper 70s on Tuesday. Throughout the FastCast period, expect lows in the low to mid 50s, except in the upper 50s on Tuesday morning.

------------------------------------------------------------

Continue reading the full blog below!

A big (but brief) cooldown is ahead for the entire state on Friday, as showers, clouds, and marine air brings a refreshing break from a warm few days. 

Below is the NAM high-resolution forecast showing 24-hour temperature difference at 4 PM Friday.

Temperatures on Friday will be 10-15° cooler in the lowlands and a whopping 10-35° cooler in Eastern WA and the Cascades. 

So what will those highs be? Let's take a look at the NAM high-resolution forecast for Friday's highs, seen below.

This is significantly cooler than any of the past few days. Expect lowland highs in the upper 50s to low 60s (this model does run a few degrees cool, so mostly low 60s are expected). The exception will be the coast, where highs will likely top out in the mid 50s. Eastern Washington will also be much cooler, with highs in the low to mid 70s.

Now...what you've all been waiting for...the rain forecast! The first rain of June is expected on Friday for most of the lowlands, but there will be even more rain in Eastern Washington! Let's take a look at some forecasts.

First, the NAM high-resolution rain forecast through 5 PM Saturday.

Note that stronger showers will bring 0.5-1.5" of rain across parts of the Cascades and Eastern WA north of I-90. In the lowlands, expect 0.1-0.3" of rain, with isolated higher totals from Shelton to Quilcene and north of Bellingham. The southern tier of WA (East & West) and the coast will get a trace to 0.15", with the exception of the Cascades and Blue Mountains.

Next, let's take a look at the European model's rain forecast through Saturday night.

The European model's forecast shows significant rain for Eastern WA from I-90 northward, including Spokane, with 1-2" in these areas. This could cause flooding if it occurs in a short timeframe. This forecast shows more rain west of the Cascades (except the coast), with 0.1-0.3" from Portland northward. The coast and Eastern WA from I-90 southward will get a trace to 0.1".

Finally, the UW high-resolution forecast, showing total rain through 5 PM Saturday.

The UW forecast shows heavy rain for most of Eastern WA north of I-90 and around Spokane, with totals of 0.3-1" possible. This forecast shows less rain for the lowlands, with a trace to 0.15" for most of the lowlands and 0.1-0.3" in the foothills.

Overall, any rain that we can get will be beneficial across the state, since we are heading into wildfire season far drier than normal. Enjoy the brief cooldown!