Seattle Sizzles at 86 Today, Jacket Weather by Weekend

Seattle is waking up to clear skies and a serious summer spike, with temperatures expected to climb from the low 60s early Tuesday to near 86 degrees this afternoon. The heat will be brief, though: cooler air moves in Wednesday, followed by a wetter and cloudier turn heading into the weekend.

The National Weather Service expects sunny skies Tuesday with light west-southwest winds increasing to around 9 mph late in the day. Forecasters also noted that moderate HeatRisk will return across the Seattle-Tacoma area, while some wildfire smoke may remain aloft.

Tuesday Brings The Week’s Hottest Afternoon

Most of the warming will arrive between late morning and midafternoon, with temperatures reaching the upper 70s around lunchtime and the mid-80s later in the day. Skies should stay mostly sunny, and rain is not expected to be a factor for Seattle.

Temperatures will fall back to around 59 degrees Tuesday night under partly cloudy skies. For people working or exercising outdoors, the City of Seattle recommends moving strenuous activity to before 11 a.m. or after 6 p.m., seeking shade and drinking water before thirst kicks in.

Cooler, Cloudier Weather Takes Over

Wednesday will be mostly sunny but noticeably cooler, with a high near 78 and a low around 59. Thursday will trim temperatures further to about 74 degrees, with partly sunny skies and a light southwest breeze.

Friday should remain mild, topping out near 73 degrees, but a slight chance of rain arrives after 5 p.m. The chance of rain rises Friday night, when Seattle could see a mostly cloudy sky and a low near 56.

Weekend Plans May Need A Backup Option

Saturday looks cooler still, with a high near 68 and a chance of rain before 11 a.m., followed by possible showers and thunderstorms from late morning through the afternoon. Sunday should be drier and partly sunny near 69 degrees, although another chance of rain returns Monday.

There are no land-based watches or warnings listed for Seattle in the forecast, but boaters should note a Small Craft Advisory for the Strait of Juan de Fuca from 5 p.m. Tuesday until 2 a.m. Wednesday. For everyone else, the practical forecast is simple: enjoy the warmest day Tuesday, then keep a light jacket and possibly an umbrella nearby by the weekend.