Western WA weather: Wet and windy weekend ahead

Lucky will be the leaves still holding onto a tree by Monday.

Gusty winds and rain are expected to wallop Western Washington this weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

The dry hours passed by on Friday, with high temperatures stretching into the mid-60s across the region.

Although conditions were quiet during the day, high clouds streaming overhead heralded the change arriving by nightfall, the weather service said.

Rain was expected to make landfall along the coast Friday evening, spreading showers inland overnight.

Gusty winds were expected to blow through areas of the north coast, Admiralty Inlet, San Juan County and western Skagit and Whatcom counties, all covered by a wind advisory through early Saturday morning.

The weather service expected gusts in these areas to reach at least 45 mph, with high chance of sustained winds more than 30 mph, and warned of potential power outages and tree damage.

The remainder of the region will be breezy.

Showers will continue through Saturday night, accompanied by cooling temperatures. Highs are expected to stop in the mid-50s to lower 60s, while lows sink into the 40s over the weekend.

There’s a 15% to 20% chance of thunderstorms Sunday, and temperatures are expected to remain similar to Saturday’s.

When it’s all said and done, the lowlands are expected to pick up about an inch of rain this weekend, while the coast and mountains possibly getting triple that.