2 Inches Of Rain In 2 Days: Puget Sound Forecast

SEATTLE — Puget Sound is on track to send off summer on a soggy note, with forecasters predicting up to two inches of precipitation around Seattle, Everett and Tacoma between Friday morning and Saturday night. If the forecast bears out, that would mean more rain in two days than the region has seen in the last three months combined.

Western Washington still has a couple of days to prepare for fall's early arrival, with Wednesday afternoon and Thursday forecast to be dry and partly sunny. According to the National Weather Service, some lingering showers Tuesday night may linger into Wednesday morning but should begin to clear up by 11 a.m. Afternoon highs on both days should keep in the mid-to-upper 60s.

The real show begins Friday when forecasters expect a "fall-like front" to bring heavy rain and breezy conditions across the region. At high elevations, the mountains are likely to see their first snowfall in months, heralding a familiar pattern for the cooler months ahead.

As the storm arrives, forecasters expect snow levels will be on the high end, between 8,000 and 9,000 feet, before dropping to around 6,000 feet Saturday and Sunday. At this point, impacts at the pass level are not expected, but hikers and others planning activities at higher elevations should prepare for cold temperatures and snow, forecasters said.

Related: La Niña Winter Odds Are Improving Heading Into Fall

For the lowlands, rain showers will carry on through the weekend, and Saturday will introduce the chance for thunderstorms, gusty winds and hail. Forecasters will share details on the potential timing and placement of thunderstorms, along with wind projections, as the event nears.

The Seattle Weather Blog notes that a mid-September soaking is par for the course for Puget Sound, and those who are not quite ready for the seasonal shift should eke out a few more weeks before rain becomes the norm again. Long-term forecasts for next week expect drier conditions will return by Monday.