The big four-oh is almost here.
The only question: Will Seattle reach 40 inches of rain for the year on Wednesday or Thursday?
Our recent soggy weather—including the record-setting 2.13 inches that drenched the city on Nov. 19, and the 1.26 inches that fell on Friday—has pushed Seattle’s 2012 rainfall total to the brink of 40 inches, with 39.84 inches the official tally through today. After a pair of sunny, dry days tomorrow and Tuesday, light rain is forecast to return sometime on Wednesday, with an additional rainmaker arriving Thursday.
The Wednesday system is likely to be on the weak side, with weather models spitting out .10 to .30 inches of rain—miniscule amounts compared to the soakers of last week. Meager or not, .16 inches of rain is all it’ll take to nudge Seattle’s yearly precipitation to date to the 40-inch mark—making for just the fourth time since 2000 that we’ve measured 40 or more inches of rain in a year. (The other times? 2010, 46.99 inches; 2006, 48.82 inches; and 2003, 41.74 inches.) On average, Seattle receives 37.49 inches of rain in a year—so 2012 is already well above the norm.
Of course, this month’s precipitation has also topped the November average of 6.57 inches, with Friday’s around-the-clock rainfall bringing our monthly total to 6.71 inches. This number should only increase as November winds to a close, with today’s forecast models painting another inch of rain for Seattle in the Wednesday-to-Friday timeframe.
Speaking of that rainy stretch—Thursday’s rains should be heavier than Wednesday’s, so if we don’t hit 40 inches on Wednesday, we’ll surely do so Thursday. Temperatures both days will rise to the low 50s, with overnight lows in the 40s. Friday looks damp as well, with breezy conditions and continued mild temperatures.
In the meantime, there’s still two crisp, pleasant fall days left on the docket—so get out and enjoy.
And start gearing up for the big four-oh celebration.
