We did get .01 inches of rain last night so our rainless spell is over but it did next to nothing to alleviate the drought problem. We may get more rain tomorrow as another front will reach the area and then linger into Sunday. So cooler this weekend with next week getting progressively warmer like the 90s by the end of the week and certainly no more rain for a while.
We still have our weak Pacific High slightly out position at 38N 154W which is allowing a series of low-pressure systems to drag across the top of the high and into the PacNw, BC, and SE Alaska. The 48-hour Surface Forecast Chart is very interesting with nine low-pressure systems including three Post-Tropical Cyclones, two Tropical Storms in the western Pacific, and two more areas off of Central America that could develop into tropical storms. While they are not a threat to any landmasses, they are making the trip back from Hawaii for the TransPac racers a fast one. The boats heading back to the Pacific NW may get quite a push from Post Tropical Cyclone Nida with SW winds of over 40-knots. The storm is currently at 40N 175E but moving in an ENE direction. Nida is projected to be about 550-600 miles north of the boats on the 9th of August.
August 6 500 MB 
August 6 Surface Analysis 
August 7 Surface Forecast 
August 8 500 MB 
August 8 Surface Forecast 
August 9 Surface Forecast
The Sat Pic for today clearly shows the smoke from the fires down south still being pushed to the east but starting to accumulate in the Treasure Valley of Idaho. Bummer for our friends in Boise.
The weather this weekend will be cloudy but still pleasant. Saturday will see light conditions in the Straits until late afternoon when a onshore westerly could bring gale conditions to the central and eastern Straits. Saturday morning the most wind will be in the central and north Sound with 15-20-knots of southerly.
Sunday will see light conditions in the Sound with a continuing westerly in the Straits building in the afternoon.
Stay safe, use the sunblock, and 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)