Western WA weather: 70-degree temps and (maybe) the Lyrid meteor shower

The duality of spring is on full display, as Mother Nature swings us from winter’s grasp at night and into summer’s gaze by day.

Friday, for example, was a warm and sunny day across Western Washington, with many places pushing 70 degrees for the first time this month, according to the National Weather Service.

This followed overnight temperatures in the 30s, especially in areas like Olympia sheltered from warm easterly winds responsible for turning up temperatures by day.

A ridge of high pressure (and the aforementioned easterly winds) moved into the region Friday, heating things up considerably. High temperatures stretched about 10 degrees above average for this time of year, in the mid-60s to low 70s across the board, the weather service said.

Temperatures overnight into Saturday will once again flirt with freezing. Locations exposed to the warming easterly winds will drop only into the 40s, while the mercury in sheltered locations will sink to the mid-30s, according to the weather service.

Then, rain will move in from west of Puget Sound by Saturday afternoon, wetting pavement over most of the interior by nightfall.

High temperatures Saturday “are going to be a tough call,” the weather service said, as increasing clouds will reduce the amount of daytime heating. A few places in the Cascade foothills could still get to 70 degrees, but highs will be significantly lower along the coast and over the interior, hugging either side of 60.

Steady rain will turn showery as Saturday rolls into Sunday, with overnight lows in the upper 30s to mid-40s across the region.

Drippy clouds will shake out the remainder of their moisture Sunday morning before scattering in the afternoon.

Despite some peeking sunshine, Sunday will be “brisk,” the weather service said, with highs only in the 50s due to cold air aloft and a cool breeze coming from the Pacific.

But it won’t be chilly for long, as the pendulum of spring swings us back toward summer’s warmth early next week, with sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-60s Monday and Tuesday.

As skies clear heading into the workweek, look up. The Lyrid meteor shower peaks Sunday evening into dawn on Monday, according to EarthSky.

The moon, nearly full, will be bright in the sky, obscuring the view of most shooting stars, but with clearing clouds, you might just get lucky and catch a few.