Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Hoquiam, WA

SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY/
A frontal system will move across western Washington this evening into Friday, bringing widespread rain to the area, along with some gusty winds along the coast and the Strait of Juan De Fuca. Rain will start to spread along the coast and Olympics this afternoon, with most of the rain reaching interior portions of western Washington by this evening. Most lowland locations will receive between half an inch to an inch of rainfall, with the Olympics and Cascades likely to receive between an inch and an inch and a half of rain. High temperatures will cool with most locations seeing upper 50s, and low 60s.

As the upper trough moves through the region Friday, rain will transition more to showers. Winds will increase across the area on Friday as the parent surface low approaches the coast. At this time, much uncertainty exists, as wind strength is dependent on the track of the surface low. The most likely scenario at this time shows wind gusts generally around 30 to 45 mph along the coast Friday morning, with areas along the Strait of Juan De Fuca also seeing gusts generally 35 to 45 mph Friday evening. If the surface low tracks southward, a small chance (10%) exists of gusts reaching 55 mph along Grays Harbor county.

Additionally, the airmass will be unstable in a post- frontal environment, leading to a slight chance of thunderstorms becoming possible across most of the area Friday afternoon and evening. Snow levels will lower to 6000 to 7000 feet by late Friday, which could bring the first dusting of snow to the higher elevations of the Olympics and Cascades.

LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/
Conditions look to dry out over the weekend with weak upper level ridging across the area, meanwhile temperatures will remain in the low 60s across the area. Ensembles continue to highlight unsettled weather through the first half of next week, with chances of rain returning along with cooler temperatures.

Mazurkiewicz

AVIATION
A weak front that passed through the terminals yesterday evening will stall just east of the Cascades today, with high pressure briefly rebuilding over the Pacific before an organized low pressure system tracks inland from the southwest tonight/Friday. All terminals are VFR this morning with mid and high level cloud decks.
These ceilings will gradually lower into the afternoon and evening as the system pushes through with bands of steady rain - beginning along the coast and pushing inland through tonight. Expect deteriorating ceilings and visibilities as the rain pushes through - down to MVFR and IFR with pockets of LIFR along the coast and mountains. Winds Thursday are out of the north 4-6 kt - expect them to turn to the southeast and southwest Friday morning as the low tracks through. Gusts up to 20-25 kt are likely on Friday, as will be a post-frontal convergence zone over Puget Sound/Cascades. There is a 20% chance of thunder for activity Friday afternoon.

KSEA...VFR for Thursday as high clouds gradually lower through the day. Rain arrives at the terminal after 00Z this evening through 12Z Friday morning, with lingering showers continuing into Friday afternoon with a convergence zone. Ceilings and visibilities likely deteriorate to MVFR after 09Z with the precipitation. North winds will continue today at 5-10 kt this morning - decreasing to 4-8 kt this afternoon. Winds turn to the south Friday morning and increase during the day with gusts up to 20-25 kt.

HPR

MARINE
High pressure will briefly build back over the coastal waters today behind a weak front that moved through yesterday. WInds will continue to remain north-northeasterly today but remain below any concerns for small crafts. A stronger low pressure system remains on track to move across the waters tonight into Friday. The center of the low will likely track over the southern portions of the coastal waters, which is a slight northward deviation from previous forecasts. This resulted in a slight uptick in wind forecasts for the waters as a result. The greatest likelihood of gale gusts (over 34 kt) remains the southern coastal waters and the central/east sections of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, where a gale watch has been issued for Friday. While waters outside of the watch have lesser chances for gale gusts, there still remains a high likelihood of winds/gusts between 20-30 kt with this system, which will be hazardous to small craft. Additionally, there is a 15-20% chance of thunderstorms in the southern coastal waters with the precipitation moving through Friday morning.

Expect conditions to ease over the weekend into next week with no significant impacts with a weak system passing through Sunday. High pressure will rebuild over the coastal waters next week.

Seas will build to 5-8 ft Thursday, and increase to 9-12 ft Friday with the system moving through, before dropping back to 4-6 ft this weekend, and 6-8 ft midweek next week.

HPR

SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
WA...None.
PZ...Gale Watch from Friday morning through late Friday night for Central U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-East Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca.

Gale Watch from this evening through Friday evening for Coastal Waters From Point Grenville To Cape Shoalwater 10 To 60 Nm-Coastal Waters From Point Grenville To Cape Shoalwater Out 10 Nm.