Tag Archives: weekend weather

Terra Firma, Weather

Labor Day weekend forecast is here

The holiday weekend is almost here. I’ve written in the past how meteorological summer is June 1 to August 31, so the first day of meteorological fall is upon us! Seasonal fall for the non-science community is from the Summer Solstice to the Autumnal Equinox, which is very late this year at 12:50 PM on September 23rd! (that isn’t a typo). What I would call spiritual summer in Puget Sound goes from July 5 to sometime in October when the machine that runs fall gets turned on. If you’re confused, don’t worry. You can be pessimistic and look at summer being over this weekend, or see the glass half-full and see a few weeks of summer left, or be optimistic and revel in at least six more weeks of decent weather to come.

What about the long weekend?

If you aren’t a native or a long-term resident, you have probably concluded this summer has sucked. You would be wrong; this summer has been utterly average for Puget Sound. This coming Labor Day weekend is more of the same. If you don’t like the heat, you’ll be happy to know that for Kirkland, we’ll see temperatures through the weekend from 77 to 81, depending on where you are. The highest hills and right by the water will be the upper 70s; our Totem Lake hot spot will eek into the 80s.

What about the sun? Well it won’t be very plentiful, but it won’t be shrouded in low clouds either. We’re looking at mostly cloudy days, that will improve in the afternoon. Saturday will be the most overcast day. It will still be warm, but we aren’t going to see much sun.

Rain, that’s the important one, will it rain? Well, maybe. Looking at the weather models individually and the ensemble, there is a 20% to 40% chance of rain hour by hour from Thursday to Monday (Monday is more than 72 hours out so a bit of a dart throw today). Nothing looks like soaking rain, and we’ll likely get a few stray showers tonight (Thursday). If I were to place a bet on the best chance for some morning drizzle or some rain, Saturday afternoon to Sunday morning looks like the best chance (or worse if you do want to view it that way).

As for looking into the crystal ball a bit further, next week when all the kids will be back in school is looking like more of the same. Some AM gloom that burns off and temperature in the 70s. You know, normal.

Weather

Fourth of July forecast, low tides, and ferry boats

Fourth of July Forecast

So you want to know about the weather forecast for the Fourth of July? Errr mer Gerd, it’s cool and cloudy! It’s June Gloom in July; the fourth is ruined! Relax.

Today we are going to be well below normal with high temperatures topping out from 60 to 65 depending on your location in Kirkland. Basically, the needle isn’t going to move much through the day. We’ll have a thick blanket of clouds but can’t rule out the sun peeking through from time to time. We’ll get another round of scattered light showers this afternoon and evening – stress scattered and light.

Wednesday will be more cloudy then sunny, and there is a chance in the morning for some drizzle or a stray shower. Temperatures will be 70 to 75, and the afternoon will clear up. In other words, Wednesday is going to be a textbook June Gloom day.

The Fourth, the big day, the event, it will have Air Force planes, tanks, VIP seats for Republican donors, screaming eagles, and an orange leader. Oh, that’s Washington D.C., I digress. For us, we’ll start cloudy, but no chance of rain or drizzle. The clouds will burn off to a spectacular day with high temperatures of 71 to 76. It is going to be a beautiful day and clear for fireworks.

Looking forward past the fourth of July, our unofficial start of summer (July 5) is also textbook for Seattle. Partly cloudy to sunny through the period, almost no chance of rain, with temperatures warming up to the mid-80s by the middle of the month.

Lowest tides of the year

There is also a special bonus for this Fourth of July. Puget Sound will be having the lowest tides of the year this week, and they are timed ideally. For the Duwamish Head:

Tuesday: -3.0 feet @ 11:14 AM

Wednesday: -3.4 feet @ 11:58 AM

Thursday: -3.0 feet @ 12:43 PM

Friday: -3.0 feet @ 1:31 PM

This is our annual chance to tide pool and it is happening when a lot of people have the day off. Remember to know the tides, don’t get stranded, wear the right footwear, and be safe. It will be very slippery out there. Also, remember not to harass the sealife and use leave no trace ethics.

Jetty Island Ferry starts daily service

Also! The Jetty Island Ferry in Everett starts its annual daily runs on Friday, July 5, 2019. The first ferry of the year will launch at 10:00 AM. From Friday to Sunday the ferry runs from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, you can see the schedule here. Please note that ferry runs can be canceled due to extremely low tides, so it is likely ferry service will be disrupted this upcoming weekend. If you plan to visit Jetty Island, especially midday to the afternoon on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, call ahead for schedule information.

Weather

Weekend forecast for June 7, 2019

Ahhh, the weekend, a time of relaxation and for Puget Sound residents, of supreme importance during the summer months. This weekend forecast is a combination of bad news/good news.

First, the bad news, Friday is going to be a total washout and it is going to be, dare I say it, cold for June. We won’t see 60 degrees on Friday, heck the highest, coldest spots in Kirkland may struggle to get to 55 tomorrow. We’ll see rain showers that will be heavy at times, and it isn’t too far out of the realm of possibilities for Kirkland to hear thunder and see some hail. To add to the fun, we’ll likely see the heaviest precipitation in the hours leading up to the evening commute, so pack your patience in the morning for your drive home.

Now, the good news, after a washout on Friday the rest of the weekend is looking very nice. Saturday and Sunday will both be completely average early June days. Saturday will be the cooler, but temperatures will be near normal in the high 60s. The day will likely start cloudy but get better toward the afternoon.

Sunday will be a few degrees warmer, getting into the low 70s. The day will be mostly cloudy, but it will be a marine layer in the morning that slowly dries out, and the clouds will rise through the day.

For outdoor activity, either Saturday or Sunday is the best bet, but forget Friday – that is going to be a total loss. Me personally, I’m hoping for some booms and flashes tomorrow!

Weather

Malcontent approved Memorial Day weekend forecast

The Memorial Day weekend forecast has been in flux as we get closer to our first three-day break of the year, and for some, the symbolic start of the outdoor summer season. I know you want to know so we’ll cut through the bull and get to the point.

For tonight if you’re thinking of leaving a day early to get over the passes or head to the coast, there isn’t anything that will slow you down. The passes might have some light showers, but that is about it.

A reminder if you’re new to the Tango, I focus on a hyperlocal forecast for Kirkland, Washington.

Friday: It will be a mostly cloudy day with light rain showers. It will cool down to normal late May temperatures of the mid-60s. I’m going to go against conventional forecasts which have showers in the morning tapering off in the afternoon and predict that rain showers will likely continue to 2 to 4 PM. It won’t be a lot of rain, but if you’re leaving town on Friday, bring patience because the FIPSI factor is going to be off the charts.

Friday Night: The rain showers will stop, but the clouds will linger. The clouds will act like a blanket and keep lows in the 50s.

Saturday: Sorry peeps, but looks like day one of our three-day weekend won’t be that great. It looks like rain showers will start around 10 AM to 11 AM and then increase through most of the daylight hours. Temperatures will get into the low 60s, and we could see up to 2/10 of an inch of rain. That is a borderline washout. Rain will taper off right around sunset because you know, Puget Sound.

Saturday Night: Cloud cover continues, but due to the cool start, temperatures will drop to around 49 degrees.

Sunday: I don’t see any rain in the forecast, but I don’t see much sun. The Euro model has Kirkland maybe getting to 70 degrees. There will be west, northwest wind pushing marine air into the region that will keep it on the grayer side. Maybe a chance for a little drizzle on Sunday morning. I see this being a similar weather scenario as Mothers’ Day. The best chance for the sun will be later in the day.

Sunday Night: As Sunday winds down the marine air flow will fizzle out and winds will shift to an onshore flow. Onshore flow means drier air and warmer temperatures. The stars will come out, and we’ll prepare for the best day of the weekend, temperatures in the low 50s.

Monday: Memorial Day will be the nicest of the three days, so you’ll be able to enjoy near 80-degree temperatures, bright sun, and clear skies while you sit in traffic coming back across the passes or from the coast. Congrats! To add to the fun, both the Euro and Global US Standard models point to the chance of rain showers on Monday in the late afternoon or early evening. Given the agreement on both, I’m going to buck the other forecasts and say that high clouds will roll in late in the day and we could see a light rain shower during traffic primetime, sending the FIPSI factor off the charts again.

Personally, we’re planning on Sunday for our outing – Monday will be OK for outdoor activity but I would definitely do it earlier in the day. I wouldn’t plan for a washout on Monday afternoon, but I would at least be prepared for the slim chance of a stray rain shower in the late afternoon or early evening.

Malcontent, out.