While we bask in warm sunshine today under a protective bubble of high pressure, California endures yet another soaker of a storm. Oddly enough, Los Angeles has received far more rain than Seattle this year. Downtown LA has tallied 20" of rain since January 1 compared to Seattle's 7 inches. Amazing!

I'm not taking our blue sky for granted today. After a picture-perfect spring day of sun and 60 degrees, winter-like weather returns to end the week.

Clouds increase this evening, with a few isolated showers possible after the dinner hour. Our coastal beaches will wake up to a gusty south wind Thursday morning as a vigorous cold front approaches the Olympic Peninsula. Numerous showers develop along the I-5 corridor by midday Thursday as this front quickly departs east of Puget Sound. Several inches of late-season snow will accumulate at the mountain passes, but also across the Willapa Hills as much colder air filters into western Washington.

Winter fleeces will be back in fashion Thursday through Saturday as daytime temperatures stay in the 40s. Overnight lows during this time will be in the 30s, cold enough to support bursts of wet lowland snow within lingering showers Friday and Saturday morning. Icy thundershowers containing sleet, snow, and soft hail could also pop between sunbreaks on Friday.

The atmosphere settles a bit this weekend, but we still may have to dodge a few nuisance showers Saturday and Sunday.

Meteorologist Kristin Clark
The KOMO 4-Cast Team

Updated Wednesday Afternoon{/strong}