Enough already: Spring storm expected to pummel Seattle area

Western Washington’s run of bad weather is rolling into April, a month that usually sees temperatures creep into the 60s. No worries of that yet.

Western Washington’s run of bad weather is rolling into April, a month that usually sees temperatures creep into the 60s. No worries of that yet. Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM Image 1 of / 38 Caption Close Enough already: Spring storm expected to pummel Seattle area 1 / 38 Back to Gallery

Dark ‘n’ Stormy | dahrk n stawr-mee |Noun

(1) A cocktail comprised of two parts ginger beer, one part dark rum and a lime garnish.

(2) Washington since forever.

Western Washington’s run of bad weather is rolling into April, a month that usually sees temperatures creep up. No worries of that yet.

The region, though, has more pressing problems than depressing weather records. Meteorologists warn that a ripping windstorm will arrive Friday along with ample rain.

Sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph are expected late Friday morning, with gusts up to 50 mph. The storm is forecast to strike the Washington coast, the Puget Sound area and northwest Washington.

“A strong surface low will move north across the offshore waters and then across northern Vancouver Island on Friday,” Weather Service meteorologists said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. “This low has a good chance of bringing windy conditions to the coast, Puget Sound region, and the North interior from late Friday morning through Friday night.”

The intermittent, sometimes-soaking rain that began Wednesday is expected to continue … forever? Or at least through Sunday, when the forecast calls for showers. So, improvement.

Western Washington hasn’t seen much sun since October. The region has had just 10 days in since Oct. 1 with less than 30 percent cloud cover, while receiving a foot more precipitation than usual.

The Weather service had warned Tuesday that a weather record set in 1954 might fall, as Sea-Tac Airport hadn’t recorded a 60-degree day since October. That record – with the first 60-degree day arriving April 11 – will stand, though, as Sea-Tac hit a balmy 61 degrees Tuesday.

Seattlepi.com reporter Levi Pulkkinen can be reached at 206-448-8348 or levipulkkinen@seattlepi.com. Follow Levi on Twitter at twitter.com/levipulk.