Brier Weather Station
Latitude N 47° 46' 49" Longitude W 122° 16' 48" Elevation 341 ft
221
FXUS66 KSEW 021032
AFDSEW
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Seattle WA
232 AM PST Mon Mar 2 2026
.SYNOPSIS...
Building marine stratus is present on satellite imagery early
this morning with weak high pressure generally settling over
the region. Flow aloft is zonal, with a low pressure system
moving into northern California. The next system will arrive on
Tuesday for lowland rain and mountain snow. More active
conditions set up through the end of the week.
&&
.SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Zonal flow aloft and building marine stratus along the coast
will persist through the day today. Expect fog in areas from
Olympia west to the coast and down through the Chehalis Valley
this morning. More isolated for is possible in western Snohomish
county. Once the fog dissipates this afternoon, the high
pressure will skirt east, allowing the next system to move in on
Tuesday into Wednesday.
The system arriving on Tuesday will bring about lowland rain and
mountain snow, but generally for elevations above 5000ft. Breezy
winds will materialize as the front moves through on Tuesday
evening, with the windiest locations being along the north
coast, and throughout Puget Sound. Snow levels will lower on
Wednesday to about pass level in the Cascades but total amounts
at this point seem to be well below criteria. Storm total snow
from Tuesday through Thursday morning could yield another 5-7
inches for Stevens Pass and 1-4 across Snoqualmie Pass.
&&
.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
The active weather pattern persists into the later half of the
week with additional systems arriving through Friday. More rain
and mountain snow are in the forecast. Right now, the
mountainous area that is likely to receive the most snow is the
Mount Baker area, with limited amounts across the rest of the
Cascade passes due to higher snow levels forecast at this time.
Expect periods of rain and cooler conditions through the
weekend.
21
&&
.AVIATION...
VFR with areas of IFR/LIFR in fog slowly expanding across western
Washington early this morning. Conditions are favored to remain VFR
east of the Puget Sound, with terminals elsewhere seeing potential
for fog development this morning. Conditions will improve by the
late morning with all terminals returning to VFR by the afternoon.
Light southerly winds will persist through much of the TAF period,
beginning to increase early Tuesday as the next system approaches.
KSEA...VFR early this morning with light NE winds slowly shifting
southerly throughout the morning hours. Conditions are favored to
remain VFR through the TAF period, with a slight chance (10% to 20%
probability) of fog drifting over the terminal bringing brief
MVFR/IFR conditions.
15
&&
.MARINE...
High pressure stationed offshore will weaken today, allowing
easterly winds over area waters to turn southerly by this afternoon.
Seas will hold at around 3 to 4 feet today. Areas of fog may reduce
visibilities at times across the coastal waters today as high
pressure persists.
The next frontal system will cross area waters Tuesday, bringing the
next chance for Small Craft winds across the coastal waters, Strait
of Juan de Fuca, and inner waters. Seas over the coastal waters will
build to around 7 feet and steepen in conjunction with the stronger
winds, becoming quite choppy.
Additional systems will cross the region through the middle of the
week, maintaining chances for additional Small Craft Advisory winds
through the Strait of Juan de Fuca, particularly on Wednesday and
also into the weekend. Seas will build to around 8 to 11 feet late
Wednesday into Thursday before easing to 7 to 8 feet on Friday. Seas
are expected to build back to 9 to 11 feet by the weekend.
15
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
No river flooding is expected over the next 7 days.
&&
.SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WA...None.
PZ...None.
&&
$$
NWS SEW Office Area Forecast Discussion