Unseasonably Warm Week Hits Puget Sound as Snow Levels Plummet and Rain Returns
Updated (5 articles)
High-Pressure Ridge Drives Record-High Temperatures strengthening high‑pressure ridge will dominate the region from Monday night through Friday, pushing daytime highs into the mid‑50s to low‑60s °F. Seattle is expected to reach 63 °F on Tuesday and Wednesday, a record‑high benchmark for February. The ridge contributes to temperatures 10‑15 °F above normal, creating spring‑like conditions across Puget Sound [1].
Fourteen-Day Dry Spell Nears Historic Record Seattle‑Tacoma International Airport has gone 14 consecutive days without measurable rain, one day short of the 15‑day record set in 1963. Light rain is forecast to begin Tuesday evening and spread overnight, ending the dry streak. The incoming moisture arrives from the southwest, raising temperatures into the upper 40s °F and low 50s °F [2].
Snow Levels Drop to 4,000 Feet, Limiting Accumulation Snow thresholds will fall to roughly 5,500 ft on Saturday, 4,500 ft on Sunday, and dip to about 4,000 ft early Monday, allowing 2‑5 inches of snow at higher elevations [1]. A separate forecast notes a similar 4,000‑ft level on Wednesday, with snow levels rising to 5,000‑6,000 ft later in the week, restricting snowfall to the highest peaks [2]. The timing discrepancy reflects differing model outputs for early‑week versus mid‑week periods.
Coastal Flooding Possible Under Full “Snow” Moon Modest rain on Sunday (one‑third to one‑half inch) and Monday (a few tenths of an inch) will combine with a full “Snow” moon, raising the risk of limited coastal flooding at high tide along the shoreline [1].
Weak La Niña Contrasts With Unseasonal Warmth Although a weak La Niña pattern typically brings cooler, wetter winters to the Pacific Northwest, Seattle has never experienced a snow‑free La Niña season. February has delivered 45 inches of snow over the past decade, surpassing totals for other winter months combined, underscoring the anomaly of the current warm spell [1].
Sources
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1.
King5: Unseasonably Warm Week Ahead for Puget Sound Amid Dropping Snow Levels: Forecast emphasizes record warmth, descending snow thresholds, modest rain, and potential coastal flooding, highlighting a strong ridge and La Niña context.
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2.
King5: Seattle’s 14‑Day Dry Spell Nears Record as Rain Returns Tuesday: Focuses on the near‑record dry streak, impending showers Tuesday night, rising temperatures, and concerns for the snowpack from warmer southwest moisture.
Timeline
Nov 28, 2025 – A ridge of high pressure over the Gulf of Alaska builds a dry pattern for western Washington after Thanksgiving, with partly sunny Friday highs in the low 50s °F, snow levels near 4,000‑5,000 ft, and only spotty afternoon showers expected over the holiday weekend [5].
Dec 31, 2025 – Dry New Year’s Eve lets Seattle celebrations proceed without umbrellas as high pressure keeps rain at bay; a Dense Fog Advisory covers Thursday morning, and forecasters say “showers return on New Year’s Day,” ending the brief dry spell [4].
Jan 1, 2026 – Light rain moves into lowland western Washington on New Year’s Day, bringing the first measurable precipitation after the dry eve and marking the start of a wetter pattern for the region [4].
Jan 2‑3, 2026 – A stronger system expected Saturday into Sunday could bring steadier lowland rain and “moderate‑to‑heavy snowfall” in the mountains, while breezy south winds may develop along the coast and Hood Canal [4].
Early Jan 2026 – Sea‑Tac ties its all‑time January high at 58 °F and Olympia reaches 57 °F, reflecting an unusually warm January that supports the ongoing dry spell and pushes snow levels up to about 12,000 ft [3].
Jan 15, 2026 – The high‑pressure ridge persists through the weekend, maintaining dry weather across western Washington with daytime highs in the upper 40s‑low 50s °F and snow levels hovering near 12,000 ft; forecasters note this is “the longest dry stretch … since September” amid the warm January [3].
Jan 27, 2026 – Seattle‑Tacoma International records 14 consecutive rain‑free days, one day short of the 1963 record, and meteorologists forecast light rain to begin Tuesday night, ending the streak and bringing warmer southwest moisture that threatens the already depleted snowpack [2].
Jan 28, 2026 (Tuesday night) – Showers move in across the Puget Sound area, cloud cover increases, and temperatures climb into the upper 40s‑low 50s °F, signaling a shift to a more humid air mass [2].
Feb 3‑9, 2026 – A strong high‑pressure ridge drives unseasonably warm weather with highs in the mid‑50s‑low‑60s °F, “record‑high benchmarks for Seattle (e.g., 63 °F on Tuesday and Wednesday),” and a “Snow” moon that could cause limited coastal flooding at high tide; snow levels dip to 4,000 ft on Monday, producing 2‑5 inches of snow at higher elevations [1].
Feb 2026 (context) – The current weak La Niña pattern, which “historically brings cooler, wetter winters,” has never produced a snow‑free season in Seattle, and February has delivered 45 inches of snow over the past decade—more than the total for all other winter months combined [1].
All related articles (5 articles)
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King5 (Seattle, WA): Unseasonably Warm Week Ahead for Puget Sound Amid Dropping Snow Levels
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King5 (Seattle, WA): Seattle’s 14‑Day Dry Spell Nears Record as Rain Returns Tuesday
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King5 (Seattle, WA): Extended dry weather persists across western Washington through weekend
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King5 (Seattle, WA): Dry New Year’s Eve ends rain; showers expected on New Year’s Day in Western Washington
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King5 (Seattle, WA): Dry Weather Expected Over Holiday Weekend, With Spotty Showers Possible