It definitely is a Seattle summer with five nice days, one day of rain and one day of cloudy and overcast. All before we have yet another beautiful weekend. Today’s surface analysis shows the Pacific High finally starting to set up just a little south of what we would consider “normal”. This is good as it allows these weak summertime low-pressure systems with attached fronts to occasionally come into the Salish Sea, just like this week. This helps with watering and helps keep the fire danger down, at least on this side of the Cascades. Eastern Washington will remain warm and fire danger will remain elevated well into the fall.
Aug 7 500 mb 
Aug 7 Surface Analysis 
Aug 8 Surface Forecast 
Aug 9 500 mb 
Aug 9 Surface Forecast 
August 10 Surface Forecast 
Aug 11 500 mb 
Aug 11 Surface Forecast
Today started overcast and as you can see from the satellite picture, there is a weak frontal system offshore which will pass over us this afternoon and into the early evening. With frontal passage, the current south wind we have off the coast will become northerly and a stronger onshore flow will develop. The stronger northwesterly flow will be in the Strait of Georgia by early tomorrow afternoon and in the Strait of JdF by late tomorrow afternoon. Expect small craft advisories with the potential for gale warnings in the Strait of Georgia. While the breeze will hold in the Strait of Georgia it will ease after midnight in the Strait of JdF. Some of this breeze will carry down Admiralty Inlet however for the rest of central and south Sound expect northerlies in the 8-12-knot range.
Over the next couple of days, the Pacific High will strengthen slightly to 1034mb and drift slightly north which will give us some protection from the next cold front coming into the north of us toward the end of this coming week. This frontal system will have the effect of weakening the Pacific High and causing it to drift slightly to the south. The jet stream flow will remain zonal until the end of the week and remain well to the north of us.
Enjoy the weekend!
Bruce has raced and cruised the Pacific Northwest his entire life. He earned a Bachelor’s of Science from the University of Washington in Biological Oceanography and learned meteorology “to keep from getting kicked around on the race course.” Bruce spent nearly two decades as Associate Publisher for Northwest Yachting Magazine, retiring in mid-2015, and was the chairman of the board of trustees for the Northwest Marine Trade Association in 2014. (photo of Bruce driving Playstation is a bit dated, but cool)