WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — Forecasters with the Seattle office of the National Weather Service expressed confidence in their forecast of unseasonably warm weather for this weekend, Saturday, October 15th, and Sunday, October 16th.
Little change in the warm and dry pattern is expected in the coming days with high temperatures hovering 10 to 15 degrees above normal for much of the area. The upper ridge will shift overhead on Saturday, and, at the same time, low level offshore flow will increase. This will lead to a period of heightened concern in terms of fire weather and perhaps some of the warmest temperatures on record for mid-October at a number of locations in western Washington.
The upper ridge axis will gradually shift eastward on Sunday and the low-level flow will begin a gradual shift toward onshore. Cooler temperatures are expected along the coast, but another unseasonably warm day is expected across the interior. A dissipating front will approach the coast on Monday cooling temperatures areawide. National Weather Service Seattle office (October 14, 2022)
Forecasters issued a red flag warning for the western slopes of the north Cascades above 1500 feet today, October 14th, due to “A combination of moderate breezes, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to rapid rates of spread and down-wind spotting on existing fires,” according to the warning statement.
The warning will be in effect from 11am tomorrow through 5pm on Sunday.
Forecasters added that, looking beyond the long-term forecast, computer weather forecast models agree that “a substantive pattern change is in the offing.” This would bring the potential for rain and more seasonably cooler temperatures later next week.