Brier Weather Station
Latitude N 47° 46' 49" Longitude W 122° 16' 48" Elevation 341 ft
215
FXUS66 KSEW 111654
AFDSEW
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Seattle WA
854 AM PST Wed Feb 11 2026
.SYNOPSIS...
Dry conditions will persist through early Thursday as an upper level
ridge builds over Western Washington, bringing the chance for
morning fog or low stratus. The ridge will weaken late Thursday as
the next frontal system arrives, bringing lowland rain and mountain
snow. Unsettled and cooler conditions continue into the weekend,
with additional systems expected to move over the region.
&&
.SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Forecast below remains on track for the morning update (minor
updates to the aviation section below). HPR
As a weak upper level ridge nudges into western Washington,
areas of fog and low stratus will continue to expand southward
along the Salish Sea and Puget Sound this morning. Mostly clear
skies will break out of the low stratus and fog by the late
morning to early afternoon, allowing high temperatures to reach
the upper 40s to lower 50s. Clouds will begin to filter in
across the region later this evening as the next frontal system
slowly approaches. However, with weak high pressure remaining in
place, another round of fog and low stratus is possible Thursday
morning, with similar temperatures to today.
The next frontal system will cross the Pacific Northwest later
on Thursday, bringing in the next round of more widespread
precipitation. Snow levels will lower to near 3000 feet
overnight into Friday as the system digs into the region, with
light snow accumulations through the Cascade passes.
Precipitation will taper off late in the day Friday, with
another system on its heels. Friday will cool several degrees,
with most locations seeing high temperatures in the mid 40s.
&&
.LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/...
Models remain in good agreement over unsettled conditions
through the remainder of the forecast period. By Monday, an
upper level trough is slated to dig southward into California,
bringing slightly cooler air into western Washington. This may
bring potential for snow to mix with rain at lower elevations
overnight into Tuesday, though confidence is low over any
accumulations or impacts. Chances for precipitation will
continue across the region through the long-term, with light
rainfall accumulations across the lowlands and several inches of
much needed snow accumulation over the mountains.
15
&&
.AVIATION...A weak upper ridge remains over Western Washington
today with light northerly flow aloft. Low level flow remains
northerly and will weaken tonight. Areas of IFR/MVFR in stratus
will persist around Puget Sound, the Southwest Interior, and
portions of the Strait of Juan de Fuca before dissipating most
areas midday. More extensive low cloud is expected across the
area late tonight into Thursday morning as surface flow turns
light.
KSEA...VFR today with N winds 10 kt decreasing to 5 kt or less
after 00Z, then shifting to light southerly Thursday AM. A
return of IFR or LIFR ceilings are likely again Thursday
morning.
33/27
&&
.MARINE...
A weak surface ridge will remain over area waters into Thursday.
Northerly flow across much of the waters today will turn
southerly on Thursday as a frontal system moves into the British
Columbia coast then dissipates over Western Washington early
Friday. A stronger system will follow late Friday into Saturday
and will begin a more active period this weekend into early next
week with headlines likely at times for both wind and seas.
Seas 5 to 7 ft will build well into the double digits late Thursday
into Friday before subsiding to near or just below the 10 foot mark
over the weekend and early next week.
27
&&
.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