Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Shelton, WA

UPDATE
Minor updates to the aviation discussion below.
Otherwise no major changes to the forecast below - expect more cloud coverage to clear later today.

HPR

SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH MONDAY/
Upper level troughing will remain the dominant influence across western Washington into next week as an upper level low remains situated across the Gulf of Alaska. Increasing onshore flow has allowed for stratus to fill back into the majority of the area overnight, with satellite imagery showing stratus already filling in to the Cascade crest this morning. Stratus will dissipate this afternoon for another round of late day sunshine. Afternoon high temperatures will be in the mid 60s to low 70s.

The upper level trough will then dig southward on Sunday, allowing for 500 mb heights to amplify somewhat over the western Washington.
Sunday will be sunnier than Saturday and highs will climb a couple degrees, topping out in the 60s to mid 70s.

Chances of showers then increase along the coast on Monday as a shortwave trough moves into the region and a weak frontal system approaches at the surface. Overall rainfall amounts look rather light, with the main impact expected to be an increase of cloud cover across the region. Afternoon highs will be similar to Sunday, with temperatures topping out in the 60s to mid 70s.

LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/
Upper level troughing will continue across the region through much of the long term, with the upper low over the Gulf of Alaska gradually sinking southward throughout the week. Chances of shower activity will increase Tuesday into Wednesday as the system pushes a frontal system across the area at the surface. Overall precipitation amounts look to remain rather light across most of the area at this time. The exception would be the North Cascades, where some spots may see a quarter to half an inch of precipitation. High temperatures will be in the 60s to mid 70s, with lows in the 40s and 50s.

By Friday, both deterministic and ensemble guidance show the upper level low moving inland across the area. This would bring additional shower chances and cooler temperatures to western Washington heading into next weekend. 14

AVIATION
Southwesterly flow aloft continues with an upper level low just off the coast of British Columbia. Starting to see cloud cover filling in across Western Washington this morning. Cloud cover along the Cascade foothills continues to move west towards Puget Sound terminals this morning, but expecting it to remain VFR (~4000- 6000 ft). In addition, cloud cover along the coast continues to push east, with lower cloud bases. May see low-end VFR with these clouds.
Otherwise, VFR conditions expected to prevail today. Clouds should slowly breakup throughout the course of the day. Keeping with the patter, stratus is expected to redevelop again Saturday night into Sunday morning as well.

Southwesterly winds this morning will slowly veer throughout the day to west/northwesterly by this afternoon. Winds may be breezy along the coast and along the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

KSEA...The leading edge of the stratus along the Cascade foothills continues to move west into the terminal this morning. However, still expecting conditions to remain VFR. Clouds should lift an scatter today, with VFR prevailing today. Southwest winds will gradually veer throughout the day, becoming northwest this afternoon and northerly tonight into Sunday morning.

62/29

MARINE
Broad high pressure over the northeast Pacific will remain in place through this weekend, maintaining northwesterly winds across the coastal waters. Diurnally driven pushes of westerlies down the Strait of Juan de Fuca will occur each evening with varying degrees of strength. The strongest of the next few days will occur this evening, which requires a Small Craft Advisory for the central and eastern portions of the Strait through early Sunday morning.

Going into next week, a weak front will move through the waters on Monday, followed by additional weak systems traversing the area through the middle of next week.

Seas will remain 3 to 5 ft through the weekend, increasing to to around 5 to 7 ft Monday and remaining the the 4 to 6 ft range through the rest of the week.

62

SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
WA...None.
PZ...Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to 5 AM PDT Sunday for Central U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-East Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca.