Seattle is in for a wet Memorial Day, with rain developing around 10 AM PT and temperatures climbing only to near 62°F before falling back to the upper 50s by afternoon — grab a rain jacket before you head out.
Today’s Setup
The National Weather Service says the first showers of a frontal system have already arrived along the coast and will spread inland through the morning. The heaviest rain falls south of Seattle, with up to a quarter inch possible across the metro. There’s a 10–15% chance of a thunderstorm today, favored on the Olympic Peninsula and down through the Chehalis Valley — worth keeping an eye on if you’re heading west. South-southwest winds of 7 to 12 mph will make it feel sharper than the 62°F high suggests. If you had coastal plans near La Push or Ocean Shores, skip it — the National Weather Service is warning of unseasonably large waves building this afternoon and peaking at 14–16 feet on Tuesday.
Best Window To Be Outside
Your window is this morning. Get your walk around Green Lake, Discovery Park, or along the Puget Sound waterfront done before 10 AM PT. After that, conditions deteriorate through the afternoon. If you’re grilling at home, a covered patio or deck is your best friend today — a portable propane grill can still work under an overhang, but open-air setups will get rained out.
Allergy Angle
The rain will briefly knock pollen down, but don’t be fooled — counts can spike sharply once skies clear. If your sinuses are already complaining, stock up on an allergy relief nasal spray and consider a saline sinus rinse Neti pot kit to clear things out after spending time outdoors. For anyone with kids reacting to tree pollen, kids allergy chewables Zyrtec are worth keeping on hand through the week. Running a HEPA air purifier indoors today is a solid move while everything is damp and spore counts fluctuate.
Tonight’s Event: Dethklok at Moore Theatre
Dethklok plays Moore Theatre tonight — and honestly, a drenched Memorial Day is practically the right weather for a metal show. It’s fully indoors, so the rain is irrelevant. Find tickets on StubHub if you’re going last-minute.
Looking ahead to Wednesday, May 27: Trey Anastasio plays an acoustic evening at Paramount Theatre. Also indoors, and Tuesday’s clearing weather makes that a pleasant evening to be out. Get tickets on SeatGeek while they’re available.
For baseball fans, the Tacoma Rainiers host the Las Vegas Aviators at Cheney Stadium on Tuesday, May 26. Morning showers are possible (20% chance), but conditions should improve through game time. Snag Official team gear on Fanatics to rep the Rainiers.
Dinner Tonight
A rainy, cool Memorial Day is pasta night. A hearty bolognese or creamy carbonara warms everything up and takes about as long to make as it would to fight with a wet grill. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door.
Next Few Days
Tuesday brings the turnaround — a slight chance of morning showers before 11 AM PT, then mostly sunny skies and a high near 63°F. The National Weather Service says high pressure returns and temperatures warm through the latter part of the week. If you’ve been waiting for a decent outdoor day, Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday are your targets. Check the Seattle weather forecast for updates as the pattern improves.
