Seattle is starting Friday, Aug. 21, clear and around 63 degrees at Boeing Field, with one more warm summer day ahead. Afternoon temperatures should climb near 81 degrees under partly sunny skies, giving the city a brief taste of late-summer heat before the weekend turns cooler and wetter.
Light north-northwest winds will stay between 1 and 6 mph through the afternoon, while clouds gradually build later in the day. The National Weather Service Seattle says the region has had no measurable rain at Sea-Tac this month aside from a trace on Aug. 1, making this dry first stretch of August an unusually notable one.
Saturday Brings Cooler Air And Light Rain
The forecast shifts after 4 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, when Seattle has a 20% chance of light rain. Rain chances rise to 50% during the day, mainly before 4 p.m., with mostly cloudy skies, south winds around 8 mph and a high near 72 degrees.
Rainfall should remain light, with new amounts expected to stay below a tenth of an inch. Saturday night will be mostly cloudy and cooler, with a low around 58 degrees.
Fire Weather Watch Covers Higher Terrain
The broader region could see scattered showers and thunderstorms Saturday, with the greatest concern in the Olympic Mountains and North Cascades. A Fire Weather Watch remains in effect from late Friday through Saturday evening in parts of those higher elevations, where lightning, dry vegetation and sudden gusty winds could create new fire starts.
Boaters should also note a Small Craft Advisory from 6 p.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Saturday for the central and eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca. The advisory does not cover Seattle streets, but conditions could turn choppy for smaller vessels heading through the strait.
Mostly Dry Weather Returns Next Week
Sunday should be partly sunny with a high near 73 degrees, followed by mostly sunny weather Monday and Tuesday with highs near 75 and 77 degrees. A slight chance of light rain returns Wednesday after 11 a.m., while Thursday looks partly sunny with a high near 72 degrees.
