Early Puget Sound July 4 Forecast Looks ... OK?

SEATTLE, WA - OK, it's still really early, but there are now some preliminary forecasts out for the first week of July - including Independence Day. The results are pretty mixed.

According to the National Weather Service, there's a greater than 33 percent chance that it will be cooler than normal, but also a greater than 33 percent chance that it will be drier than usual.

So what does that mean? Looking at historical data, the average temperature over the last four years on July 4 is about 78 degrees. It also has not rained on July 4 since 2014.

At this point, 10-day forecasts are pointing to temperatures around 71 degrees on July 4 with about a 10 percent chance of rain. Not too bad, but not exactly summer. Looking at the National Weather Service long-range forecast, the outlook for next week is consistent with weather we're experiencing right now - temperatures in the high 60s, partly cloudy, with a chance for showers.

Image courtesy NWS