Sun for Now, Rain for Mom

You’d think, being a mom and all, that Mother Nature would have arranged for our sunny spell to extend through Sunday.

Unfortunately, with rain returning this weekend, a dry Mother’s Day isn’t in the cards.

Guess she figures Seattle moms have been spoiled enough recently?

Undeniably, it’s been a fantastic start to May across the region, with nary a raindrop recorded in the gauge at Sea-Tac Airport through the first eight—soon to be nine—days of the month. In addition, temperatures have surged above normal every day since May began, with even the foggiest of mornings—ahem, today—seeing ample sunshine by the afternoon. Boosted by Monday’s record-setting high of 87, the month is currently running close to 8 degrees above average—more on par with summer than spring.

We’ll round out our stretch of nice weather with one more sunny, warm day tomorrow as high pressure remains overhead. With the cool marine air of the past few days backing off, morning clouds will be few and far between, allowing temperatures to zoom into the upper 70s and lower 80s. The all-time high for Seattle on Friday is 80 degrees from 1993, so it’s quite possible that we’ll wrap up the workweek the same way we started it—on a record-breaking note.

Rain will dampen the flowers on Mother's Day, but   sunshine and warm weather will prevail before then.
Rain will dampen the flowers on Mother’s Day, but sunshine and warm weather will prevail until then.

Saturday kicks off partly sunny, with warm air ahead of an approaching frontal system making for a decent first half of the day. Highs will again rise into the 70s before the clouds thicken in earnest later in the afternoon.

Mother Nature pulls the plug for good overnight Saturday into Sunday as a cold front pushes onshore, spreading moisture back into the area for the first time in nearly two weeks. Depending on timing, the rain will snuff out our dry streak at either 11 or 12 days—the latter would tie Jan. 11-22 for the longest precipitation-free period in Seattle this year.

Mother’s Day morning dawns wet and noticeably cooler, with temperatures hugging the lower 60s as the front crosses the Sound. Most places should collect around half an inch of rain—no small potatoes in light of May’s bone-dry beginning, but far removed from the gullywashers of last month. A change of heart from Mother Nature Sunday afternoon leads to a decrease in shower activity—but the clouds stay put.

Rain ramps up again on Monday as an upper level low plows through, with high temperatures peaking in the mid 60s. Scattered showers then continue through mid-week as the first half of May winds to a close.

Here’s hoping we get spoiled rotten again during the second half.