Seattle wakes up to lingering low clouds this morning, but skies clear out for a mostly sunny Friday with a high near 74°F — a genuinely pleasant July day, and your cue to get outside while the getting’s good.
Today’s Setup
The National Weather Service says this morning’s overcast is leftover moisture from Thursday’s rain, tied to an upper-level low sitting just off the northwest Washington coast. That system is drifting away from us, so Seattle proper should stay dry — only the northernmost Olympic Peninsula has any lingering shower chance. Winds stay light out of the south-southwest at 3 to 7 mph, and tonight cools to a comfortable low around 57°F under mostly cloudy skies.
Best Window To Be Outside
Once the morning cloud deck burns off, midday through early evening is your sweet spot — light winds, low humidity, and no rain in the forecast (just a 1% chance). Good timing for a walk around Green Lake, a paddle on Lake Union, or an evening at the Woodland Park Zoo. The NWS notes temperatures are actually warming more slowly than earlier models suggested, thanks to that lingering upper-level trough, so don’t expect a scorcher — just steady, comfortable warmth through the weekend.
Rain, Wind, Or Heat Risk
No advisories are in play. HeatRisk stays in the Minor/Yellow category through Sunday, and the real heat doesn’t build until high pressure strengthens next week, when forecasters expect well-above-average temperatures. Enjoy this stretch — it’s the calm before things warm up.
Weekend Plans: Mariners & Live Music
The Seattle Mariners host the San Francisco Giants at T-Mobile Park tonight (July 17), Saturday (July 18), and twice on Sunday (July 19) — all outdoor games with dry, mild conditions expected each night. Grab a Seattle Mariners jersey or a Seattle Mariners fitted cap before first pitch, and if you still need seats, you can find tickets on StubHub or get tickets on SeatGeek. Music fans have options too: Jimmy Eat World’s 25th anniversary Bleed American show hits WAMU Theater Saturday (a Jimmy Eat World t-shirt makes a solid souvenir), and Joji: SOLARIS lands at Climate Pledge Arena Sunday — a Joji hoodie will come in handy once temperatures dip into the upper 50s after dark.
What To Wear, Bring, And Eat Tonight
Layer up for the morning clouds, then shed them by afternoon. If you’re out on the water or lounging on Lake Washington, an Intex floating lounge with cooler is a smart, affordable pickup, and an insulated water jug 1 gallon keeps everyone hydrated through a warm afternoon. With dry, grill-friendly weather, tonight’s a great night to fire up the smoker — check out our tri-tip smoking guide for an easy, brisket-style dinner, and keep a TIKI Brand citronella torch fuel on hand if you’re eating on the patio after sunset. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door, including Amazon Fresh groceries for the sides.
Next Few Days
Saturday climbs to a high near 75°F with light west winds, and Saturday night cools to around 57°F under mostly clear skies — ideal for stargazing. The Area Forecast Discussion says Sunday pushes toward the mid-70s to near 80°F as the trough finally exits, setting the stage for a much warmer, drier pattern building in behind high pressure early next week.
