Warmer Days & A Pleasant Weekend Ahead: Puget Sound Forecast

SEATTLE — While a few more showers are in the forecast through Thursday, temperatures should inch closer to the 60s to cap off the week, and pleasant sunny days are on tap for the weekend.

The National Weather Service expects Thursday will look a whole lot like Wednesday, with the same high of 54 degrees and low of 42, showing a good chance for rain and adding a potential for thunderstorms in the afternoon.

The forecast shows things shaping up nicely for a partly sunny Friday, with afternoon temperatures improving by a few degrees with a calm wind. The weekend promises to keep the streak alive, with afternoon highs right around 60 degrees and sunshine expected both Saturday and Sunday.

The welcome return of a little spring warmth arrives amid a rather gray start to the season, which has largely trended on the cool side, in line with earlier predictions. Fortunately, the lingering cool moisture has helped Washington build up its snowpack.

The break in the clouds will be relatively short-lived, with a chance of rain returning Monday and temperatures falling back to the mid-50s by Tuesday.

"Sunday will still be dry for the most part although a front moves ashore along the B.C. coast on Sunday that may give the north coast a little rain Sunday afternoon and evening," NWS Seattle wrote Wednesday. "Showers might start to increase on Monday with an upper trough just offshore and southwest flow aloft. That said, it looks like most of the precip will hold off [until] a shortwave and then upper trough move ashore Monday night and Tuesday."

Here is the five-day weather outlook for the Seattle area:

• Thursday: 54°/42° (Showers - 80%)
• Friday: 58°/42° (Partly sunny)
• Saturday: 60°/43° (Partly sunny)
• Sunday: 61°/45° (Partly sunny, PM chance of rain)
• Monday: 59°/44° (Chance of rain)