No Eclipse View for Western WA, Unsettled Weather Continues

FastCast--Monday, April 8 to Friday, April 12:

While most of the US will be able to see at least a very partial solar eclipse on Monday, the same cannot be said for Western Washington, where near 100% cloud cover will make it so the ~20% eclipse will be obscured. In the absence of the eclipse, expect showers and breezy conditions from Monday to Tuesday, with 0.2-0.6" of rain across the region. Winds will gust 20-30 mph, except up to 40-45 mph along Admiralty Inlet, in the San Juans, and in Western Whatcom County. We'll dry out on Wednesday, with another chance of showers on Thursday, followed by a drier Friday. This week, expect lowland highs in the mid 50s to low 60s, except only in the low 50s on Monday. The warmest day of the week will likely be Wednesday.

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Continue reading the full blog below!

While Western Washington will be far removed from the total solar eclipse occurring across the Central and Eastern US on Monday, there will still be 20-30% totality across the state from 11 AM-12 PM. However, this will not be easily seen west of the Cascades. 

Below is the NWS NBM forecast for cloud cover around midday Monday.

Expect 85-100% cloud cover west of the Cascades. In Eastern Washington, cloud cover will be 10-60%, most (40-60%) along the eastern slopes of the Cascades and near Spokane. The Columbia Basin will see 10-30% cloud cover, least around the Tri-Cities and Walla Walla. 

The lack of eclipse viewing in Western Washington will be due to a system moving in that will bring rain and mountain snow from Monday to Tuesday. Below is the European model forecast for total rain through Tuesday night.

This forecast shows 0.4-0.6" across the lowlands, except 0.2-0.3" in a rain shadow around areas from Seattle to Everett. The coast and Kitsap Peninsula will receive 0.9-1.9", most on the northern coast. The eastern slopes of the Cascades and the eastern third of Eastern WA will receive 0.05-0.15" with this system.

Next, let's take a look at the NWS NBM model forecast for mountain snow through Tuesday night.

This forecast shows a potential for 2-4" of snow at Stevens Pass, with lower amounts of a trace to 1" possible at Snoqualmie and White Passes. Higher recreation areas like Paradise and ski areas at Mount Baker, Mission Ridge and Crystal Mountain will likely receive up to 5-8" of new snow with this system.

This system will also bring a round of breezy to locally windy conditions across Washington. Below is the European model forecast for wind gusts through Tuesday.

Expect gusts of 25-35 mph around the lowlands, with gusts of 40-45 mph possible for Whidbey & Camano Islands, the San Juans, and Western Whatcom County. Most of the coast and most of Eastern Washington will gust 30-40 mph. 

Lastly, here's a look at the NWS NBM model temperature forecast for Western Washington's warmest day of the week, Wednesday.

This forecast shows lowland highs reaching the upper 50s to low 60s, with highs in the Willamette Valley reaching the mid 60s, and Eastern Washington reaching the low to mid 60s, except into the upper 60s for the lower Columbia Basin.

Overall, relatively benign weather is ahead for the next few days, so enjoy the lull in activity around the Northwest!