False spring: Western Washington flirts with record highs this week

It’s the first week of February, yet the weather in western Washington feels almost spring-like. Temperatures this week are forecast to be well above average, with the possibility of record daily high temperatures.

Record daily highs across the region this week are in the lower to mid-60s. For instance, at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), the record high for Tuesday is 63 degrees in 1992, Wednesday is 63 degrees in 2009, Thursday is 62 degrees in 1987, and Friday is 64 degrees in 1993.

Record highs in Olympia, Bellingham, Hoquiam, Forks, and many other western Washington locations have similar readings. The average high temperature during early February is around 50 degrees.

Another strong area of high pressure aloft is driving this unseasonably warm period. This high pressure aloft is not as dominant as the one that produced the 2-week dry spell last month, yet it is enhancing temperatures across the region.

Snow depths well below average

The warm, dry weather is not helping the mountain snowpack. Early this month, the Northwest Avalanche Center reported snow depths in the Olympics and Cascades were well below average for this time of year, running from about 30% to 50% of normal.

According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the amount of water in the snowpack was only about 40% to 50% of average, with the exception of the North Cascades at around 80% of average.

Washington SNOTEL map. (Image courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture)

This period of unseasonably warm and dry weather is forecast to change this weekend. The strong high pressure aloft is anticipated to shift inland, allowing Pacific weather systems to again resume their path into the Pacific Northwest.

Rain is expected to return Saturday and Sunday as the first of a series of weather systems tracks onshore. High temperatures are forecast to cool closer to seasonal averages.

Mountain snow levels will be relatively high to start this weekend – around 5,000 feet – before falling early next week, close to 3,000 feet. The weather pattern change will permit the mountain snowpack to begin to make a comeback. The usual peak of the snowpack is around April 1.

In the meantime, this week will give the feeling of a false spring. Outdoor bulbs like daffodils are already rising out of the ground. More typical February weather with rain in the lowlands and snow in the mountains is forthcoming heading into next week.

Ted Buehner is the KIRO Newsradio meteorologist. Follow him on X and Bluesky. Read more of his stories here.