The thunderstorms that hit our region a couple of days ago are a classic sign of spring in the Northwest. And the temps we’ve been experiencing lately are entirely normal for this time of year, says KPLU weather expert, Cliff Mass.
So if you’ve been shivering and wishing for the balmy temps that made Monday seem like summer, Mass says you might as well get used to it for a while. We’re in for a cloudy, unsettled weekend, with “plenty of clouds around," according to Mass.
Enjoy Friday Outdoors
Mass says Friday’s calm skies are a classic moment of quiet before a storm, which was lingering off the northwest coast.
“A fairly strong front is right off shore and I can look at the coastal radar and see this intense front with really heavy precipitation,” he said. ‘That is going to move in during the afternoon, so expect a change for the worse: some rain.”
But Mass predicted the storm will only last a few hours, with lighter showers afterward, continuing into Friday night.
Back to Normal Spring Temps This Weekend
Cooler temperatures, a lot of clouds (with a few breaks) and some showers this weekend is what Mass says is in store on Saturday and Sunday. He says that’s actually pretty typical weather for Easter weekend. It’s because of something called an ‘upper level trough’ in the atmosphere, pushing more turbulent weather into the lowlands.
“We’re really getting back to normal now,” he said.
“We’ve had months – like a year – of above normal temperatures. And the last few days have been almost perfectly normal (in terms of) the highs and the lows,” Mass said.
And he says it looks like the rest of the weekend will be just like that, with temperatures maybe getting up into the mid or upper 50s and dropping down into the low to mid-40s, with some showers coming in and out.
Monday and Tuesday, Mass expects that pattern to continue, just getting a bit weaker.
Sunny Skies Returning Next Week
“And then by the middle of next week, an upper-level ridge will develop,” Mass said. That means high pressure that will bring back some sunshine and warmth.
“And we’ll see temperatures surging back up into the 60s to even upper-60s by Thursday.”
So maybe put off the gardening this weekend and curl up with a good book or board game. And enjoy the relatively blessed wetness of our region as California struggles with looming evidence of a real water shortage this coming summer.
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The weekly KPLU feature "Weather with Cliff Mass" airs every Friday at 9 a.m. immediately following BirdNote, and twice on Friday afternoons during All Things Considered. The feature is hosted by KPLU Environment Reporter Bellamy Pailthorp. Cliff Mass is a University of Washington Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, a renowned Seattle weather prognosticator, and a popular weather blogger. You can also subscribe to a podcast of “Weather with Cliff Mass” shows.
