Seattle is serving up one of its finest spring days of the year — sunny skies and a high near 74°F make this a drop-everything Friday for the Seattle weather forecast. Whether you head to Green Lake, Alki Beach, or Discovery Park, get outside now: the National Weather Service warns that Memorial Day brings widespread rain and a significant cooldown across western Washington.
Today’s Setup
Overnight temps settled near 53°F under mostly clear skies with barely a whisper of wind. Friday climbs to near 74°F with light NNW winds of 1 to 6 mph — as calm and beautiful as late May gets around Puget Sound. The one catch: dry, sunny days like this push pollen counts high. If allergies dog you, keep an allergy relief nasal spray handy before heading out, pack eye drops for allergy itch relief for the afternoon, and run a HEPA air purifier at home tonight to help you reset.
Best Window To Be Outside
Friday is your gold-star day. Saturday stays decent — partly sunny near 72°F — but the National Weather Service’s Area Forecast Discussion notes that morning marine stratus will start pushing inland as onshore flow increases through the weekend. By late Sunday night, the next system arrives. Memorial Day Monday brings widespread rain to western Washington, with highs likely stuck in the low 60s through Tuesday. NWS estimates roughly a quarter to three-tenths of an inch of rain in the lowlands and up to one and a half inches in the Cascades and Olympics from Sunday through Tuesday.
Weekend Events & Gameday Conditions
Tonight, the Seattle Storm host the Connecticut Sun at Climate Pledge Arena — all indoors, so weather is no factor. Show your support with Official team gear on Fanatics. Also this evening, Inner Wave plays the Neptune Theatre.
Saturday is packed. Claypool Gold (Primus) plays the outdoor Marymoor Live in Redmond on May 23 under partly sunny skies and a high near 72°F — ideal conditions. Grab tickets on SeatGeek or Find tickets on StubHub before they’re gone. The Stifel Stars on Ice show hits Climate Pledge Arena the same night — a great covered option, and a Stars on Ice - U.S. t-shirt makes a fun souvenir. Phantom of the Opera also runs at the Paramount Theatre on May 23.
Dethklok plays the Moore Theatre on May 25 — right in the wet window, but it’s indoors so no worries there.
The Tacoma Rainiers face the Las Vegas Aviators at Cheney Stadium on May 26 — Memorial Day rain is in the forecast, so layer up and bring a poncho to the ballpark.
What To Wear Or Bring
A T-shirt handles the midday heat; throw a light jacket on for the morning commute. If you’re fishing off a pier or paddling on Lake Union, the UPF 50+ Fishing Shirts for $6.50 deal is hard to beat for a day like this. High-pollen conditions also make a pollen count face mask worth tossing in your bag if you’re spending hours outside.
Dinner Tonight
A warm, sun-filled Friday evening is made for something light and fresh — pasta primavera or a quick vegetable stir-fry fits perfectly. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything delivered in time for dinner.
Next Few Days
- Saturday, May 23: Partly sunny, near 72°F — still a solid day, especially the morning hours
- Sunday, May 24: Morning marine clouds, afternoon clearing; onshore flow building
- Memorial Day Monday, May 25: Widespread rain arrives, highs in the low 60s
- Tuesday, May 26: Showers continue; Cascades and Olympics see heaviest accumulation
- Wednesday–Thursday: Gradual clearing toward the upper 60s, though the National Weather Service notes ensemble models are split with no clear consensus yet
