Wet Wednesday Ahead: Rain and Thunderstorms Coming to Seattle

Here’s the headline: Wednesday is going to be a wet one, folks. We’re looking at showers and thunderstorms rolling in during the late morning through mid-afternoon, with an 85–90% chance of precipitation. If you’ve got outdoor plans, now’s the time to shift gears or grab some gear.

What to Expect Today

This morning starts mild—around 39°F overnight with just a slight 20% chance of light rain before dawn. But come Wednesday morning, things pick up. Rain chances climb through the day, and we’ll see organized showers and thunderstorms develop between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Temperatures will hover near 49°F early, then actually drop to around 47 as the rain intensifies. It’s that classic spring pattern we know well: moisture-laden air colliding with a weak frontal boundary.

Expect new rainfall amounts between a tenth and a quarter inch—nothing extreme, but enough to soak you if you’re caught unprepared. The good news? There’s no excessive rainfall risk for our area (the Weather Prediction Center has flagged concerns further east), so we won’t see the kind of heavy downpours affecting the Great Lakes region.

Plan Your Day

Skip the lawn mowing today—the ground will be saturated, and you’ll just clog up the deck. Thursday is your better bet.

Fishing? The rain could actually trigger a bite, especially if you’re targeting steelhead in the rivers. Just dress appropriately—a packable rain jacket is worth its weight in gold on days like this, and waterproof hiking boots will keep your feet dry if you’re wading.

Golf and outdoor sports should wait until Thursday. You’ll be much happier on the back nine when skies clear and it warms to 55°F.

Commuters: Allow extra time. Wet roads and reduced visibility always slow things down on I-5 and the bridges.

Evening Plans? Cook Indoors

This is perfect slow-cooker weather. Throw together a hearty beef stew, chili, or minestrone this morning, and come home to comfort food when the rain’s done. A programmable slow cooker means you can set it and forget it—no need to hover over the stove. If you’re feeling ambitious, an enameled cast iron Dutch oven works beautifully for braised dishes or crusty bread to go with your soup.

Looking Ahead

The good news arrives Thursday: mostly sunny skies and highs near 55°F. Perfect for outdoor activities, yard work, and yes—that belated round of golf. By Friday and into the weekend, we should continue on an upward trend.

One last note: The Mariners host the Texas Rangers on Saturday at T-Mobile Park. If you’re planning to catch the game, Saturday looks dry and pleasant—great tailgating weather. Grab your tickets early, and you’ll have a beautiful day at the ballpark.

Stay dry out there, Seattle. We’ve earned this rainy day.