SEATTLE, Wash. – Showers and isolated thunderstorms could pop up across Western Washington Wednesday, with the strongest activity expected over the Cascades. Some storms may drift into the lowlands and Olympic Peninsula, bringing brief downpours, lightning, and gusty winds.
According to the National Weather Service in Seattle, a disturbance moving across the region will spark convection in the mountains through Wednesday evening. While most of the storm activity is expected to stay east of Puget Sound, residents from Everett to Tacoma may see a stray storm late in the day. Outdoor recreation areas, including Mount Rainier National Park and the Olympic Mountains, face the highest risk of lightning.
Travelers should be alert for sudden heavy rain on mountain passes such as Stevens and Snoqualmie, where wet roads could become slick. Hikers and campers are urged to have a quick shelter plan, as lightning can develop with little warning.
The threat should diminish overnight as the disturbance exits the region, but additional showers remain possible into Thursday morning.
