Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Steilacoom, WA

SYNOPSIS
A weak front will bring in clouds and light snow over the Cascades tonight. High pressure will rebound over the weekend and into early next week, resulting in prolonged cooler temperatures, dry conditions, and periods of morning fog. A pattern change is on track for the latter half of next week, with troughing expected to bring precipitation to western Washington at the end of the month.

SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/
Light precipitation will continue to spread southward tonight, with light rain showers over the lowlands and a dusting of snow over the mountains. With snow levels near 2500 ft, the Cascade passes could see very light snow accumulations into the early morning hours. High resolution forecast models also hint at continuing shower activity through the early morning hours along the I-5 corridor from Seattle southward to Olympia, and with cold temperatures in place overnight, some snow flakes are possible with no accumulations or impacts expected. The additional moisture with this system, although very light, will allow for the development of patchy fog and isolated areas of freezing fog early Friday morning.

Increased dry northerly flow will allow skies to clear by Friday afternoon, with below normal highs in the lower to mid 40s across the lowlands. Clear skies will allow temperatures Saturday morning to dip below freezing nearly everywhere across western Washington, with most areas seeing low temperatures in the mid to upper 20s. Light winds and clear skies will also generate areas of fog and freezing fog Saturday morning, with more of the same on Sunday with a degree or two of warming.

LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/
Stable conditions with high pressure aloft will persist into the first half of next week, allowing for continued dry and cool weather. Conditions will remain fairly steady through Tuesday, with highs in the low to mid 40s, lows in the upper 20s to low 30s, and rounds of patchy fog and freezing fog each morning. The chance for precipitation increases towards the latter half of next week, with ensembles and operational models both in good agreement over a pattern change to round out the month of January.

15

AVIATION
Current satellite shows high clouds have moved into Western Washington ahead of an incoming weak frontal system.
Ceilings have already begun to trend MVFR across the terminals lower clouds move through. Gradual improvement is expected starting Friday morning with the clouds scattering throughout the day, with flow aloft more north/northeasterly.

KSEA
Ceilings currently at MVFR as a weak frontal system moves over the terminal. Gradual improvement in the ceilings expected throughout Friday morning and will likely trend VFR around 21Z, once all the clouds scatter out. It should remain clear for the remainder of the TAF period, once the clouds clear.

Winds currently trending north/northeasterly around 6/7 knots.
North/northeasterly flow expected to persist through the remainder of the TAF period. Winds will gradually increase late Friday afternoon, with guidance currently having sustained wind speeds reaching between 11-13 knots.

MGF/Mazurkiewicz

MARINE
A frontal system will move over the coastal waters tonight into early Friday morning. Northerly winds expected to increase this evening. The strongest winds will be in the outermost coastal waters, and a Small Craft Advisory is currently in effect. High pressure will quickly rebuild behind the frontal system this weekend and persist through early next week. High pressure will begin to weaken Tuesday.The next frontal system is expected to arrive late next week.

Seas will build to 8 to 12 ft tonight into Friday, and will subside to around 4 to 6 ft this weekend through next week.

MGF

HYDROLOGY
No river flooding is expected over the next 7 days.

SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
WA...None.
PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 4 PM PST Friday for Coastal Waters From Cape Flattery To James Island 10 To 60 Nm-Coastal Waters From James Island To Point Grenville 10 To 60 Nm- Coastal Waters From Point Grenville To Cape Shoalwater 10 To 60 Nm.