We got the monkey off our backs last year, and thankfully, it won’t be returning in 2013.
A second dry Easter is in store for Seattle on Sunday, following a stretch of seven straight rainy Easters that mercifully ended last April 8, when no precipitation dampened the holiday for the first time since 2004. What’s more, the dry weather will be accompanied by a surge of warmer air—one that could send the mercury soaring close to the 70-degree mark.
But first, we’ve got some clouds and showers to deal with.
Overcast skies will prevail across Western Washington for the next 24 hours, thanks to an upper level low spinning nearby. While temperatures will remain mild—most places were in the mid 50s at 3 p.m.—light rain showers will affect the region the rest of the afternoon and evening as the low moves closer to us. Amounts should be on the small side, however, and won’t add much to March’s current rainfall total of 2.65 inches.
Additional spotty showers continue through the first half of Thursday, with high temperatures again peaking slightly above normal in the upper 50s. The clouds slowly dissipate later tomorrow night, setting the stage for a sunny and warm Friday. Right now, temperatures on Friday look to return to the lower 60s—giving us our third 60-plus day of the week (we hit 62 yesterday and Monday).
It’s off to the races once Saturday arrives, with a ridge of high pressure overhead boosting our temperatures into the mid 60s under wall-to-wall sunshine. In addition, the winds will reverse course, blowing from the east over the Cascades, further helping funnel warm air into the region.
By Easter Sunday, several spots around the area will be threatening 70 degrees—especially places closer to the foothills, like Issaquah, Enumclaw and North Bend. For Seattle proper, highs will likely peak in the upper 60s under sunny skies. With rain out of the question, we’ll record our first pair of back-to-back dry Easters since 2001-2002—a span of 11 years.
We stay dry early next week as well, although at some point on Monday or Tuesday, the winds will blow from the west again, allowing cooler air to trickle in off the ocean. Still, high temperatures will remain above average at 60 degrees—compared to the norm of 56 for early April. Morning clouds are possible both days, but sunshine is a good bet in the afternoons.
Sounds like spring is here to stay.
First back-to-back Easters without rain since 2001-2002? I’m pumped!
Seriously–it’s a once-a-decade-ish treat!