The radar image around 6 PM shows precipitation moving in from two directions: precipitation from a Pacific front approaching southwest British Columbia and the northwest tip of the Olympic Peninsula, and thunderstorms over eastern Oregon.
The visible satellite image at about the same time shows the two features clearly.
The front will move through on Wednesday, bringing cool/wet conditions to western Washington and the Cascades. A welcome break that will moisten the surface and lessen the wildfire threat.
The total precipitation through 5 PM Wednesday is shown below. A significant wetting of the western side of the Olympics and the north Cascades.
What makes this event particularly favorable is that southwest Canada will get plenty of rain (see forecast below for the next few days), which means less smoke for the Northwest.
So far, wildfire smoke has been minimal over the region and wildfire acreage has been well below normal (see the WA DNR numbers below).
Tomorrow temperatures will only be in the 60s west of the Cascade crest, but warmer conditions will soon follow (see forecast temps below at Seattle ).
No major heatwaves, with temperatures in the 90s. Add 10F for the Columbia Basin, with highs approaching 100F on many days:
This is why I rarely leave the safety of my basement man cave
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