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Mass: Memorial Day Weekend Will Be Warm, Dry And 'Perfect'

Wade Harris
/
Courtesy of Wade Harris
"A Day In The Life Of Drydock" 5.23.17, near Bellingham, WA

Get out your sunscreen, shades and maybe power up a grill or three. The weather for Memorial Day weekend in Western Washington will be extremely pleasant for most people.

“Warm again, temperatures getting up into the 80s before the weekend is over,” said Mass, who teaches atmospheric sciences at the University of Washington.  

“It’s going to be just a perfect weekend  -- there’s just nothing to say bad about it.

“It’s going to be dry; it’ll be sunny,” he said.

Friday – Upper 70s And Dry

“No chance of precipitation” at the start of the weekend, Mass said of Friday’s weather. He says the temps will reach the upper 70s and then as the weekend progresses, high pressure will build aloft, “right over us,” Mass said.

“And ridges of high pressure bring sinking air, warming temperatures – no precipitation.”

Saturday – Warm Again

Mass says temps are likely to hit the low 80s on Saturday.

“We could be in the mid-80s before it’s over,” he said. “And then after that, maybe a very slow cool-down.”

But he said there will not be any precipitation and skies will be sunny.

“So, what can I tell you? Meteorologists should go on vacation – like everyone else,” he said.

The rest of the weekend is looking similar, with sunny skies and temps as high as mid 80s on Sunday and into Memorial Day Monday, when there is a slight chance of showers later in the day.

Longer term, the forecast starts to get a bit cloudy early next week. So get out and enjoy your surroundings this weekend and relish in the glory of the Pacific Northwest in May before June gloom sets in.

To hear the full discussion of the weekend weather along with look back at the amazing offshore push of marine air that blew through the region last Tuesday, you can click on the “play” icon at the top of this post.

The weekly KNKX 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 KNKX 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 podcasts of ‘Weather with Cliff Mass’ shows, via iTunesor Google Play.

Bellamy Pailthorp covers the environment for KNKX with an emphasis on climate justice, human health and food sovereignty. She enjoys reporting about how we will power our future while maintaining healthy cultures and livable cities. Story tips can be sent to bpailthorp@knkx.org.