09:40 AM Wednesday March 27

Dry and sunny today with low level northeasterly flow. Light rain will spread north into the area late this afternoon and tonight as a front moves into western washington then dissipates on thursday. A weak upper level trough will keep a chance of afternoon and evening showers over the mountains friday and saturday. A system may bring a chance of rain to the area late sunday into monday. Temperatures will remain near normal.

SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY/

High pressure over british columbia with the approaching frontal system approaching the area from the southwest will result in northeasterly low level flow and dry conditions. A frontal system stretching from the central oregon offshore waters southeastward into the northern california coastal waters will lift northeastward today. Expect increasing mid and high clouds through the day. Light precipitation will begin to move into the area from about hoquiam to olympia and southward during the late afternoon hours ahead of the main frontal band. Highs will rise to around 60. The front will move northward into the area tonight, producing light precipitation, mainly from about everett or so southward. Low temperatures will dip into the upper 30s to mid 40s.

The air mass will destabilize and dry somewhat on thursday as the front moves northward and dissipates with showers mainly over the mountains on thursday. Showers still possible over the lowlands as showers but less likely than the mountain areas. Showers will dissipate thu night as the air mass becomes more stable. Highs on thu will be around 60 once again and lows thu night will be in the 30s to lower 40s.

Models have been inconsistent through friday with how they are handling the large scale pattern over the western us and canada. The forecast remains a compromise with the best bet for instability and showers over the mountains friday afternoon and evening. Lows will again be in the 30s to lower 40s, with high temperatures near 60.

LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/

From previous discussion...the dry ecmwf solution results in only an isolated mountain shower on saturday while the gfs continues to show more mountain convection with an upper low closer to the area. Sunday the ecmwf shows a passing upper trough giving convective showers to the northern mountains while the gfs is drier with a system approaching from the southwest. Monday and tuesday is mostly dry in the ecmwf while it is showery in the gfs. At this time, a middle ground approach was made to compose the forecast. Albrecht

MARINE

Offshore flow through today as a result of a low pressure system well to the southwest. Small craft advisory issued for puget sound into this afternoon with offshore winds. Small craft winds also through this afternoon for the coastal waters as well as the west entrance of the strait of juan de fuca. Winds will become southerly as a front moves into the area with light showers around. Offshore winds generally late thursday through the weekend. Jd

AVIATION

Southeasterly flow aloft will continue into tonight. Frontal system will push north into the area this evening into early tonight. Increasing mid and high level clouds into this afternoon. Generally vfr conditions to continue with light rain showers mainly south of skagit county during the evening. Northerly surface winds will turn southerly as the front pushes through. Winds 5-15 knots. Gusts near 25 knots through this afternoon.

Ksea...vfr conditions continue. Increasing high clouds this morning into this afternoon. Mid level clouds arrive this evening and continue into tonight with light rain generally around 02z- 05z. Northerly winds 10-18 knots. Gusts near 25 knots through this afternoon. Jd

SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Wa...none. Pz...small craft advisory until 5 pm pdt this afternoon for coastal waters from point grenville to cape shoalwater 10 to 60 nm.

 small craft advisory until 11 am pdt this morning for coastal       waters from point grenville to cape shoalwater out 10 nm.

 small craft advisory until 2 pm pdt this afternoon for coastal       waters from cape flattery to james island 10 to 60 nm-      coastal waters from cape flattery to james island out 10 nm-      coastal waters from james island to point grenville 10 to       60 nm-puget sound and hood canal-west entrance u.s. Waters       strait of juan de fuca.