02:44 PM Tuesday March 05

Moisture associated with a system moving into northern california will move into the area wednesday through thursday morning. Temperatures will be cool enough that precipitation wednesday night into thursday morning may fall as snow, or a rain-snow mix, on higher hills. Showers with low snow levels will continue thursday into friday as an upper low remains in the area. Drying is expected for the weekend especially on sunday. Temperatures will remain below normal through the period.

SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/

Outside of a few high clouds, clear skies and plenty of sunshine remain this afternoon. Temperatures remain below normal with 2pm temperatures in the mid to upper 40s. Pattern change gets underway tonight into wednesday as upper level low currently off the central bc coast drops southeast through thursday. Flow will turn southwesterly, pulling up moisture from atmospheric river system moving inland into california. Showers will move up from the south during the early morning hours and overspread the rest of the area during the day. heaviest precipitation expected east of the sound on wednesday. showers will continue thursday into friday as system approaches and moves inland. Whole period won`t be a washout as precipitation will be more showery in nature but hard to pinpoint exact timing and locations.

Main story will be snow levels which remain a bit uncertain at this time. For the most part, snow levels during the day will be in the 500-1000 feet range, dropping down to around 200-500 feet overnight wednesday and thursday. This would allow for bulk of precipitation in the lowlands to fall as rain. A slushy accumulation is possible along the coast, on higher hilltops, and grassy surfaces in the lowlands but at this time, we`re expecting minimal impacts to lowland roads given daytime temperatures in the 40s, overnight lows near or just above the freezing mark, and antecedent conditions. Models do hint at a convergence zone setting up somewhere in the vicinity of snohomish/king counties thursday night which could bring heavier showers and a quick burst of wet snow. That will be something to watch. In the cascades, snow will lead to hazardous travel at times across the passes with snow- covered roads possible above 1000 feet. As always, with lowland snow forecasts, these details could change slightly so stay tuned to the latest forecasts over the next few days. Ceo

LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/

System shifts out of the area on saturday with perhaps just a few lingering showers. High pressure then briefly builds in for later saturday into sunday with dry weather expected. Temperatures saturday in the mid 40s will warm to near 50 degrees by sunday. Model timing differences remain for next system that will move across the area sometime later monday into tuesday. At this time, looks warm enough for all rain in the lowlands with snow levels above 2000 feet but will continue to monitor. Temperatures likely remain below normal. Ceo

HYDROLOGY

River flooding is not expected for the next 7 days.

SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Wa...none. Pz...none.

MARINE

Light flow tonight and wednesday morning will become moderately onshore wednesday night, with advisory strength winds possible over most waters. Onshore flow will continue thursday then weaken friday. Weak offshore flow is likely to return over the weekend.

AVIATION

Southwesterly flow aloft will continue tonight and wednesday as an upper level low remains near vancouver island. Light offshore flow tonight will become moderately onshore by wednesday afternoon. The air mass is dry and stable with vfr clear skies. High clouds will increase tonight, then ceilings will lower wednesday as a weather system moves mainly into oregon. Skies are likely to be vfr at first, but as precipitation spreads into the area from the south after 20z, there could be some mvfr ceilings.

Ksea...discussion above applies. Northerly winds 5-10 kt. Chb