Brier Weather Station
Latitude N 47° 46' 49" Longitude W 122° 16' 48" Elevation 341 ft
477
FXUS66 KSEW 120326
AFDSEW
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Seattle WA
726 PM PST Wed Feb 11 2026
.SYNOPSIS...
The pattern will continue to remain dry with upper level ridging
over western Washington Wednesday into early Thursday. Thursday
morning may see a few areas of fog or low stratus in the
Southwest Interior. Active weather will return finishing the
week into next week, with chances of precipitation, and
temperatures dropping a few degrees.
&&
.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...
Latest satellite imagery shows high clouds approaching the
coastline. Therefore, expect cloud cover to increase tonight
across Western Washington, creating some uncertainty on whether
the high clouds will be sufficient to prevent fog development
at some locations. Otherwise, no major updates to the forecast
this evening. The previous forecast discussion follows below.
Western Washington sits under a transient ridge this afternoon
that will continue to shift southward tonight into Thursday. The
weather will continue to remain dry this afternoon with just a
few low clouds close to the waters and high cirrus. Temperatures
this afternoon have reached the upper 40s/low 50s, and will drop
tonight into mid 30s, with winds becoming calm. Patchy to areas
of dense fog are likely to redevelop tonight/Thursday
(especially in the Southwest Interior with cooler
temperatures/dew point spreads).
The ridge will give way to a trough on Thursday, with a cold
front in trail at the surface. While fog/low clouds will be
present Thursday morning, there still will likely be a brief
clearing of the clouds early afternoon before the clouds fill in
late in the day. Temperatures may be a couple degrees cooler
(compared to Wednesday) but still around 50 for most. The
precipitation chances will increase Thursday night/Friday for
the whole region. The Cascades, and the Olympics/Pacific Coast
have the highest chance of seeing precipitation (which is
expected to come through as bands or showers). Given the limited
moisture ahead of the front, the QPF amounts are light in
nature, with the lowlands only seeing a tenth-two tenths of an
inch of rain through Saturday, and the mountains seeing half an
inch to an inch of QPF. Snow levels will be around 3,000 ft will
keep snow impacts limited to higher peaks (with only a 10%
chance of more than 6 inches of snow at Snoqualmie/Stevens
Passes). Additionally, while seas are expected to remain below
high-surf threshold (20 feet plus), waves of 16 to 18 feet are
possible Friday along the Pacific Coast, and beachgoers should
be aware of the unsettled seas.
&&
.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
The previous mentioned front will pass through on Saturday, with
only a 30% chance of precip remaining Saturday/Sunday in the
Cascades/South Interior. Snow levels behind the front will drop
to around 1,000-1,500 feet Sunday into next week. High
temperatures look to remain in the mid 40s through next week,
with lows dropping into the low 30s (with Monday morning being
the coldest). A couple surface troughs behind the front will
keep a slight chance /chance of precipitation, although once
again moisture is very limited with only minor lowland/mountain
accumulations expected. If a shower is heavy enough in the
lowlands early next week, it may be possible to see a couple of
snowflakes make their way to the ground. The ensembles are
favoring the active weather pattern to continue next week, with
potential for a stronger system producing some significant
mountain snow midweek next week. Please stay tuned for updates
on this potential system.
&&
.AVIATION...
Dry and stable conditions through Thursday with weak
high pressure over the region. IFR/LIFR fog/stratus may develop once
again during the overnight hours - mostly over the interior and
coast. There is a chance that high clouds moving over the
terminals overnight may hinder fog development. However,
confidence is low at this time. Any fog/low clouds should
dissipate by 19-21Z, with conditions bouncing back to VFR. Rain
from a weak frontal system will reach the coast after 00Z
Friday. 33
KSEA...VFR conditions this evening with N/NW winds around 5-6
kt. Winds becoming S/SE by 09-12Z with IFR-MVFR stratus forming.
Improvement to VFR by late morning/early afternoon. S/SW winds
Thursday afternoon at 5-7 kt. MVFR conditions return after 11Z
Friday. 33/29
&&
.MARINE...
High pressure with generally light winds over the
waters through Thursday. Seas will build over 10 ft Thursday
afternoon and a Small Craft Advisory is in effect for the
Coastal Waters. A weak front will move inland on Friday with
seas remaining elevated. Brief, light, offshore flow will
develop over the weekend. Additional frontal systems will clip
western WA over the week ahead. 33
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
No river flooding is expected over the next 7 days.
&&
.SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WA...None.
PZ...Small Craft Advisory from 10 AM Thursday to 4 PM PST Friday
for Coastal Waters From Cape Flattery To James Island 10
To 60 Nm-Coastal Waters From Cape Flattery To James
Island Out 10 Nm-Coastal Waters From James Island To
Point Grenville 10 To 60 Nm-Coastal Waters From James
Island To Point Grenville Out 10 Nm-Coastal Waters From
Point Grenville To Cape Shoalwater 10 To 60 Nm-Coastal
Waters From Point Grenville To Cape Shoalwater Out 10 Nm.
&&
$$
NWS SEW Office Area Forecast Discussion