Storm system moving into western WA means rain, strong winds in Tacoma next week
Enjoy Saturday’s spots of sunshine while you can — strong winds and rain are expected to close out the weekend in Tacoma, and the weather will stay wet until Wednesday, forecasters say.
The National Weather Service is predicting a strong storm system will move into the Puget Sound area Sunday and continue into Tuesday. The system means an 80 percent chance of rain in Tacoma and wind gusts as high as 23 mph by Sunday night.
Rain is expected to start after 11 a.m. Sunday, with less than a tenth-inch of precipitation possible during the day in Tacoma. Winds will begin to strengthen, with 12 to 17 mph south southwest winds by the afternoon.
Forecasters warned that gusty winds Sunday night could cause tree limb damage and localized power outages. The strongest winds will be along the coast, but the NWS said even where winds aren’t as strong, the duration of them may cause more problems than would typically be expected at these speeds.
In the Cascade mountain passes, 1 to 2 feet of snow is expected to fall Sunday night through early Tuesday, which could cause traffic delays for travelers. And the accompanying strong winds may reduce visibility from blowing snow.
The storms are expected to pick up strength Monday. The threat of lightning is highest over coastal waters and around the Olympic Peninsula, but isolated thunderstorms may develop anywhere in western Washington.
Winds will also strengthen in Tacoma, with speeds between 16 and 25 mph during the day and gusts as high as 33 mph. The chance of rain Monday is 100 percent, according to NWS forecasters, with new rainfall amounting to between a tenth-inch and a quarter-inch.
Showers are likely to continue Tuesday, mainly before 11 a.m. Drier and warmer conditions are expected Wednesday and Thursday. The Wednesday high temperature is predicted at 56 degrees, and by Thursday, temperatures could hit 60 degrees.
