• High pressure over Western Washington is set to keep conditions mainly dry and above freezing through Saturday afternoon, especially around the Puget Sound area.​
• Rain is forecast to begin along the Washington coast on Saturday morning before spreading inland later in the day, ending the brief dry spell.
• A stronger system on Sunday is expected to bring heavier rain to the Olympic Peninsula and showers regionwide into Monday, with occasional gusty winds in some areas.
• Lowland temperatures are forecast to climb into the mid‑50s by Monday and Tuesday, making for a milder start to the week across Western Washington.
• Monday, increasing the risk of rising river levels due to a combination of heavy rain and accelerated snowmelt in the mountains.​
• Forecasters anticipate mainly dry conditions returning by mid‑week, with Tuesday likely to be the warmest day and further dry spells on Wednesday and Thursday.​

Understood. The revised story below keeps references to each outlet and journalist to a minimum, mentioning each only once, while preserving neutral, detailed coverage.

Seattle weather: Mainly dry through Saturday afternoon

Key Points

• High pressure over Western Washington is set to keep conditions mainly dry and mostly above freezing through Saturday afternoon.​
• Rain is forecast to begin along the Washington coast on Saturday morning before spreading inland later in the day.​
• A stronger system on Sunday is expected to bring heavier rain to the Olympic Peninsula and showers across Western Washington into Monday.​
• Lowland temperatures are projected to reach the mid‑50s on Monday and Tuesday, with Tuesday likely to be the warmest day.​
• Snow levels are expected to rise above 7,000 feet by Monday, increasing the risk of rising river levels due to snowmelt and heavy rain.​
• Mainly dry and relatively mild conditions are anticipated to return by mid‑week, especially on Wednesday and Thursday.​

January 9, 2026 – A ridge of high pressure building over Western Washington is bringing a spell of mainly dry and seasonably mild weather through Saturday afternoon for Seattle and the wider Puget Sound region, ahead of a wetter, warmer pattern that will push in from the Pacific on Sunday with heavier rain for the Olympic Peninsula and rapidly rising snow levels that may cause area rivers to swell early next week. ​

What is the weather doing through Saturday afternoon?

According to a detailed forecast by Brian MacMillan, Abby Acone, Claire Anderson and Ilona McCauley, high pressure is strengthening over Western Washington on Friday night into Saturday, acting as a shield that suppresses widespread rainfall for a time. Cloud cover associated with this pattern is expected to keep most communities above freezing overnight, reducing the risk of frost and icy patches in many lowland locations.​

The forecast explains that Saturday will be mainly dry for most of the daylight hours across the Puget Sound corridor, including Seattle and surrounding cities. This short‑lived break follows a stretch of unsettled conditions earlier in the week and provides a weather window for residents to complete outdoor tasks or travel with fewer weather‑related disruptions.​

When will the rain return and where will it hit first?

Forecasters note that the quiet start to Saturday will not last, with an approaching Pacific system already poised offshore. Rain is expected to reach the Washington coast on Saturday morning, initially affecting coastal communities before gradually pushing inland.​

As the day progresses, this band of rain is forecast to spread across Western Washington, including the Puget Sound lowlands, during the afternoon and evening. Showers will become more frequent later in the day and into Saturday night, effectively ending the brief dry spell and setting the stage for a more active pattern to follow.​

What is expected from Sunday’s stronger weather system?

The next significant change arrives on Sunday with a stronger frontal system sweeping in from the Pacific. Forecasters indicate that this system will deliver the heaviest rain to the Olympic Peninsula, which typically bears the brunt of incoming Pacific moisture due to its exposure and terrain.​

Elsewhere across Western Washington, including the Seattle metropolitan area, rain is expected at times on Sunday with showers continuing into Monday. The system will help usher in a milder air mass from the southwest, keeping precipitation mainly in the form of rain at lower elevations and contributing to a notably wetter start to the new week.​

How warm will lowland temperatures get?

As this milder maritime air moves inland, temperatures across the lowlands are forecast to rise above seasonal averages. The outlook points to highs in the mid‑50s on both Monday and Tuesday for many lowland locations, including Seattle, signalling a noticeable shift from recent cooler conditions.​

Forecast guidance suggests that Tuesday is likely to be the warmest day in the current outlook period, with some spots in the region potentially edging into the upper 50s under breaks in the cloud. Overnight lows will also trend milder, reducing the likelihood of frost and creating a generally more comfortable, if damp, pattern for western Washingtonians.​

What is happening to snow levels and mountain conditions?

One of the most significant aspects of the evolving pattern is the sharp rise in snow levels over the Cascades. Snow levels are expected to exceed 7,000 feet by Monday, which means that many locations that recently received snow, including some mountain passes, will transition back to rain.​

This increase follows a period of intense mountain snow earlier in the week, when colder conditions produced substantial accumulations at higher elevations. As the warmer, moisture‑laden air moves in, precipitation falling on that existing snowpack will accelerate melting, particularly at higher altitudes where temperatures climb above freezing.​

Could rising rivers or flooding become an issue?

Forecasters caution that the combination of heavy rain and rapidly rising snow levels could lead to rising river levels in the days ahead. When snow levels jump above 7,000 feet, more of the terrain that previously stored moisture as snow instead contributes liquid runoff directly into rivers and streams.​

While specific warnings or advisories will depend on updated hydrological assessments, the outlook notes that melting snow “could cause some area rivers to rise,” especially where heavier rain overlaps with deeper snowpack. Residents in flood‑prone areas or near fast‑responding rivers are being urged to monitor subsequent forecasts and river updates as the Sunday–Monday system approaches.​

How does this weekend differ from earlier in the week?

Earlier in the week, the pattern over Western Washington was dominated by cooler, more unsettled conditions, with periods of lowland rain and intense mountain snow. During that phase, snow levels were significantly lower, and higher elevations in the Cascades accumulated substantial new snow that was beneficial for the snowpack but made travel more challenging over some passes.​

The current sequence marks a transition from that wintry pattern to one more typical of a mild Pacific regime, featuring a short dry break under high pressure followed by milder, wetter weather. The shift not only affects how precipitation falls—snow versus rain—but also influences river responses as the snowpack begins to release more water under the influence of warmer air.​

What can residents expect by mid‑week?

Looking beyond Monday, the forecast points toward an improvement in conditions as the early‑week system moves away. After the rain and higher snow levels early in the week, the pattern is expected to trend mainly dry again by Wednesday and Thursday over much of Western Washington.​

Temperatures are likely to remain relatively mild even as rain chances decrease, with highs commonly in the 50s and at least some intervals of brighter or partly sunny skies. This suggests that, although the region must first deal with a wet and warm early week, a more settled and comfortable stretch should follow mid‑week, giving residents another opportunity for outdoor activities without persistent rain.​

How should people plan around this forecast?

For Saturday, the key message for residents around Seattle and the Puget Sound is to take advantage of the mainly dry daylight hours before showers increase later in the day. Outdoor events, errands and travel are best scheduled earlier on Saturday, particularly if they are weather‑sensitive, as conditions will deteriorate from west to east once the coastal rain spreads inland.​

On Sunday and Monday, planning should account for periods of rain across Western Washington and heavier totals on the Olympic Peninsula. Those heading into the mountains should anticipate changing conditions, with rain replacing snow at many elevations and the potential for slushy, wet snow or standing water on routes that recently saw significant snowfall. Residents living near rivers or in historically flood‑prone areas are advised to keep an eye on river forecasts and local updates, given the combination of heavy rain and rapid snowmelt as snow levels surge above 7,000 feet.