After a record-dry January in Western Washington, residents of the region saw a brief return of rain in early February. Precipitation fell on the first Saturday of the month, and on Sunday — when fans gathered to watch the 60th Super Bowl featuring the Seattle Seahawks — temperatures were expected to reach about 46°F (8°C) with rain in the afternoon. However, that wet respite proved short-lived.
According to National Weather Service meteorologist Kirby Cook, the dry conditions that set in by Tuesday evening are typical for the entire U.S. West Coast. Cloudy but nearly dry weather is expected to hold through Wednesday and Thursday, as the main storm tracks are currently focused on the eastern half of the country. Still, this dry period is likely to be shorter than January’s 15-day stretch — rain could return as soon as Friday.
Forecasters’ primary concern is the extremely low snowpack in the Cascade Range. Across much of the region, snow water equivalent is below 50% of normal. The exception is Washington Pass — the highest mountain pass in the area — where levels are at or above normal. That situation has experts seriously concerned.
Based on: Seattle weather: Rain, then dry days on the horizon