Marine Weather Net

West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait of Juan de Fuca Marine Forecast


TONIGHT

SW
WINDS
30 - 35
KNOTS

WED

W
WINDS
25 - 35
KNOTS

WED NIGHT

S
WINDS
20 - 25
KNOTS

THU

SE
WINDS
20 - 25
KNOTS

The Marine Weather Forecast In Detail:
PZZ130 Forecast Issued: 227 PM PST Tue Dec 16 2025

GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING
Tonight...Sw Wind 30 To 35 Kt With Gusts Up To 45 Kt, Veering To W 30 To 40 Kt With Gusts Up To 55 Kt After Midnight. Seas 7 To 10 Ft, Building To 9 To 13 Ft After Midnight. Wave Detail: W 13 Ft At 11 Seconds. A Slight Chance Of Tstms. Showers.
Wed...W Wind 25 To 35 Kt. Seas 9 To 13 Ft, Subsiding To 7 To 10 Ft In The Afternoon. Wave Detail: W 13 Ft At 11 Seconds And Sw 2 Ft At 11 Seconds. Showers In The Morning, Then Rain In The Afternoon.
Wed Night...S Wind 20 To 25 Kt. Seas 5 To 8 Ft. Wave Detail: S 3 Ft At 4 Seconds And W 8 Ft At 12 Seconds. Rain.
Thu...Se Wind 20 To 25 Kt, Becoming Sw 25 To 30 Kt In The Afternoon. Seas 6 To 9 Ft. Wave Detail: Se 5 Ft At 5 Seconds, S 2 Ft At 9 Seconds And W 7 Ft At 11 Seconds. Rain.
Thu Night...W Wind 25 To 30 Kt, Easing To 15 To 20 Kt After Midnight. Seas 7 To 10 Ft, Subsiding To 5 To 8 Ft After Midnight. Wave Detail: Se 3 Ft At 5 Seconds, Sw 6 Ft At 10 Seconds And W 10 Ft At 11 Seconds. Rain.
Fri...Sw Wind 10 To 15 Kt. Seas 5 To 7 Ft. Wave Detail: Sw 2 Ft At 10 Seconds And W 7 Ft At 11 Seconds. Showers In The Morning, Then Rain In The Afternoon.
Fri Night...Sw Wind 15 To 20 Kt. Seas 5 To 7 Ft. Wave Detail: Sw 2 Ft At 10 Seconds And W 7 Ft At 11 Seconds. Rain.
Sat...Sw Wind 15 To 20 Kt, Easing To 10 To 15 Kt In The Afternoon. Seas 5 To 7 Ft. Wave Detail: W 7 Ft At 10 Seconds And Sw 2 Ft At 10 Seconds. Rain.
Sat Night...S Wind 10 To 15 Kt, Backing To Se After Midnight. Seas 3 To 5 Ft. Wave Detail: S 2 Ft At 3 Seconds, Sw 2 Ft At 9 Seconds And W 5 Ft At 10 Seconds. Rain.
Sun...Se Wind 10 To 15 Kt. Seas 4 To 6 Ft. Wave Detail: Se 3 Ft At 4 Seconds And W 5 Ft At 10 Seconds. Rain.
Sun Night...S Wind 15 To 20 Kt. Seas 4 To 6 Ft. Wave Detail: Se 2 Ft At 4 Seconds And W 5 Ft At 11 Seconds. Rain. Winds And Seas Higher In And Near Tstms.
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Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Seattle WA
351pm PST Tuesday Dec 16 2025

Synopsis
A period of very active weather will dominate the week ahead as a series of frontal systems produce cascading impacts across Western Washington. In addition to ongoing river flood concerns, another period of windy conditions is expected tonight into early Wednesday. Snow levels will tumble to the passes by early Wednesday with blizzard conditions expected in the mountains. Cool, unsettled conditions will remain in place through the remainder of the week with substantial additional snowfall in the mountains.

Short Term - Tonight Through Thursday Night
A brief lull this morning will be short and sweet, with a secondary, stronger system arriving later this evening and overnight, bringing mountain snow, lowland rain, and breezy conditions through much of the area. Active weather looks to continue throughout the short term, with the hazards listed down below.

The following key messages with this secondary system and week ahead are outlined below.

* RAIN: With this secondary system, we will see rain amounts generally in the mountains around 1 to 3 inches, with an inch or less in the lowlands through Wednesday evening. Initially this evening, the snow levels will remain high, generally around 8000 to 9000 feet, which will keep the landslide risk elevated. There is also a very slight chance of an isolated thunderstorm or two developing Wednesday morning, but the likelihood of any thunderstorm remains low. For more information regarding hydrology and river flooding, please refer to the Hydrology
ction down below.

* SNOW: This secondary system moving later this evening will have snow levels initially start at 8000 to 9000 feet, slowly lowering them, especially after midnight, down to 2000 to 2500 feet. Ample moisture from this system will result in significant mountain snowfall for the Cascades and Olympics. Snow will be heavy at times along with breezy winds up to 45 mph, therefore, a Blizzard Warning has been issued for late tonight into Wednesday afternoon. We could see totals around 10 to 15 inches at Snoqualmie Pass, with 15 to 20 inches at Stevens, and upwards to 2 to 3 feet at Mount Baker and Mount Rainier. A convergence zone will set up over the Cascades which could locally drive amounts up further. With upslope flow and additional systems, snow will continue at the mountains through Thursday, with additional winter headlines likely needed for the Cascades.

* WINDS: Winds will continue to increase this afternoon and evening, with widespread gusts up to 50-55 mph along the coast and up to 40- 45 mph across the interior. Southwesterly winds this afternoon will shift west to northwesterly later this evening, with the highest gusts later tonight through the Strait of Juan de Fuca and inland into western Snohomish County. The breezy winds, combined with deeply saturated soils, raises the risk of downed trees and localized power outages.

* COASTAL HAZARDS: Minor coastal flooding remains possible along the San Juan County island coastlines during Wednesday's high astronomical tide. The threat of minor coastal flooding shifts to along the Pacific Coast on Thursday and Friday. Seas will also build along the Pacific Coast Wednesday morning, generating large breaking waves that may pose a danger to beachgoers and cause localized coastal erosion.

Long Term - Friday Through Tuesday
Active weather looks to continue throughout the long term, with a series of systems arriving throughout the weekend and into the first half of next week. Lowland rain and mountain snow will continue as snow levels remain near or just below pass levels. Cool and unsettled conditions will remain.

Mazurkiewicz

Marine
A strong frontal system will continue to cross the Pacific Northwest late tonight into early Wednesday, bringing elevated winds and seas to the region. Gale force winds will cover all area waters by this evening, with the strongest winds through the central and eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca early Wednesday morning reaching storm force. Winds will remain elevated but will gradually ease into Wednesday afternoon with SCA (Small Craft Advisory) winds continuing over the coastal waters and through the Strait of Juan de Fuca. A low pressure system will cross the region on Thursday, keeping small craft advisory winds across the coastal waters.

Seas around 11 to 14 feet will continue to build to 15 to 21 feet by early Wednesday morning. Seas will gradually subside to 10 to 14 feet by Thursday, where they will remain through Friday. Seas will subside to below 10 feet over the weekend.

15

Hydrology
Major flooding is possible on the Skagit river beginning Wednesday morning in the upper reaches with the flood crest reaching Mount Vernon Wednesday night. Several other rivers are forecast to reach minor to moderate flood but there is a fair amount of uncertainty with the crests, especially due to how quickly and and how low the snow level gets.

A flood watch is in effect through Thursday afternoon across the lowlands.

The landslide threat remains very elevated will continue to be high through at least tomorrow.
NOAA Seattle WA Office: Watches - Warnings - Advisories
WA...Wind Advisory from 4pm this afternoon to 6am PST Wednesday for City of Seattle-Eastern Kitsap County-Eastside- Foothills and Valleys of Central King County-Foothills and Valleys of Pierce and Southern King Counties- Foothills and Valleys of Snohomish and Northern King Counties-Foothills and Valleys of the North Cascades- Lowlands of Western Whatcom County-San Juan County- Shoreline / Lynnwood / South Everett Area.

Coastal Flood Advisory from 2am to 8am PST Wednesday for San Juan County.

Flood Watch through Thursday afternoon for Cascades of Pierce and Lewis Counties-Cascades of Snohomish and Northern King Counties-Cascades of Southern King County-Cascades of Whatcom and Skagit Counties-City of Seattle-Downtown Everett / Marysville Area-Eastside-Foothills and Valleys of Central King County-Foothills and Valleys of Pierce and Southern King Counties-Foothills and Valleys of Snohomish and Northern King Counties-Foothills and Valleys of Thurston and Lewis Counties-Foothills and Valleys of the North Cascades-Foothills of the Western and Southern Olympic Peninsula-Grays Harbor County Coast- Lower Chehalis River Valley-Lowlands of Lewis and Southern Thurston Counties-Lowlands of Pierce and Southern King Counties-Lowlands of Western Skagit and Northwestern Snohomish Counties-Lowlands of Western Whatcom County-Middle Chehalis River Valley-Olympia and Southern Puget Sound-Olympics-Shoreline / Lynnwood / South Everett Area-Willapa and Black Hills.

Blizzard Warning from 2am to noon PST Wednesday for Cascades of Pierce and Lewis Counties-Cascades of Snohomish and Northern King Counties-Cascades of Southern King County- Cascades of Whatcom and Skagit Counties-Olympics.

Winter Storm Warning from 4pm this afternoon to 10pm PST Wednesday for Cascades of Pierce and Lewis Counties- Cascades of Southern King County-Olympics.

High Wind Warning from 4pm this afternoon to 6am PST Wednesday for Downtown Everett / Marysville Area-Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca-Foothills of the Western and Southern Olympic Peninsula-Grays Harbor County Coast- Island County-Lake Crescent Area Including US 101-Lower Chehalis River Valley-Lowlands of Pierce and Southern King Counties-Lowlands of Western Skagit and Northwestern Snohomish Counties-Middle Chehalis River Valley-Northern Hood Canal-Northern Washington Coast-Olympia and Southern Puget Sound-Port Townsend Area-Southern Hood Canal- Western Strait of Juan de Fuca.

High Surf Advisory from 1am to 10am PST Wednesday for Grays Harbor County Coast-Northern Washington Coast.

PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 4pm PST Wednesday for
Grays Harbor Bar

Gale Warning until noon PST Wednesday for
Coastal Waters From Cape Flattery To James Island 10 To 60 Nm-
Coastal Waters From Cape Flattery To James Island Out 10 Nm-
Coastal Waters From James Island To Point Grenville 10 To 60 Nm-
Coastal Waters From James Island To Point Grenville Out 10 Nm-
Coastal Waters From Point Grenville To Cape Shoalwater 10 To 60 Nm-
Coastal Waters From Point Grenville To Cape Shoalwater Out 10 Nm-
West Entrance USA Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca.

Gale Warning from 4pm this afternoon to midnight PST tonight for
Central U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-
East Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca.

Storm Warning from midnight tonight to 6am PST Wednesday for
Central U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-
East Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca.

Gale Warning from 6pm this evening to 6am PST Wednesday for
Admiralty Inlet
Northern Inland Waters Including The San Juan Islands-
Puget Sound and Hood Canal