Brier Weather Station
Latitude N 47° 46' 49" Longitude W 122° 16' 48" Elevation 341 ft
116
FXUS66 KSEW 121826
AFDSEW
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Seattle WA
1026 AM PST Thu Feb 12 2026
.SYNOPSIS...
Cloud cover will increase today ahead of an incoming weather
system overnight into Friday. Cooler and unsettled conditions
will then settle over western Washington through next week as a
series of systems maintain chances for precipitation.
&&
.SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
Patchy fog and low stratus have once again expanded along
western Washington coastlines this morning under high pressure
aloft. Weak high pressure in place over the Pacific Northwest
will break down today as the next weather system approaches.
Most areas will break out of fog and low clouds by the late
morning, but high clouds will continue to increase throughout
the day. High temperatures will peak a degree or two higher than
yesterday for most inland areas, reaching the upper 40s to
lower 50s later today.
A frontal system will move inland late tonight into Friday
morning, bringing the next chance for precipitation. Given the
limited moisture ahead of the frontal system, precipitation
amounts through Friday night will be fairly light. Snow levels
will lower to around 2500-3000 feet on Friday, with a few inches
of snow accumulation expected through the Cascade passes.
Additionally, waves along the Pacific Coast will build to
roughly 15 to 18 feet on Friday, and beachgoers should use
caution and remain aware of the unsettled seas.
Split flow will begin to develop aloft by Saturday behind
another weak frontal passage, allowing precipitation to
decrease in coverage. Cooler temperatures will allow snow
levels to lower even closer to 2000 feet, but any additional
snow accumulations will be light. Temperatures will peak in the
mid to upper 40s on Saturday under cloudy skies.
&&
.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Split flow is expected to persist into Sunday, allowing
conditions to dry out briefly across western Washington. Sunday
afternoon looks to provide some sun breaks ahead of the next
incoming weather system Sunday night into Monday.
A deeper upper level trough will drop southward along the
Pacific Coast throughout the beginning of next week, bringing in
more widespread precipitation and cooler temperatures. Snow
levels early next week will fall to around 1500-2000 feet, and
while some lowland areas may see some brief falling snowflakes,
particularly in the overnight hours, any significant
accumulations or impacts are not expected for the lowlands. The
mountains, however, will see steady snowfall as this trough
digs into the western US, with potential for heavier snow
accumulations midweek.
15
&&
.AVIATION...
Light westerly flow aloft will become southwesterly tonight as an
upper ridge over the area weakens and a dissipating frontal system
approaches the area. Areas of LIFR/IFR stratus and patchy fog
this morning will continue to clear to widespread VFR conditions
over the next few hours. MVFR conditions with light rain
showers will develop along the coast after 00Z. Ceilings will
deteriorate all areas overnight tonight with widespread MVFR
ceilings across the region on Friday morning and light rain
developing.
KSEA...VFR conditions will persist through this evening with increasing
high and mid level clouds. Ceilings will lower tonight ahead of
an approaching front, with MVFR ceilings in areas of light rain
after 12Z Friday. Surface winds light southerly becoming S/SW 5
to 7 knots this afternoon.
27/Cook
&&
.MARINE...
A weak surface ridge will remain across the waters today. Some
patchy fog has been observed, mainly over Puget Sound but should
burn off by the afternoon. A weak front will move onshore on Friday
with a secondary system to follow on Saturday. Surface high pressure
briefly builds into British Columbia Saturday night and Sunday
turning the flow northerly. A series of troughs digging southward
across the coastal and offshore waters will keep conditions
unsettled early next week.
Seas will build over 10 feet this afternoon and remain in the 10 to
15 foot range into the early weekend. They may briefly subside below
the 10 foot threshold Sunday into early Monday before building back
into double digits again as activity offshore generates more long
period swell.
27/41
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
No river flooding is expected over the next 7 days.
&&
.SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WA...None.
PZ...Small Craft Advisory from 7 PM this evening to 4 PM PST Friday
for Grays Harbor Bar.
Small Craft Advisory until 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