Seattle weather: Rain could be ahead for Seafair Weekend Festival

As Seattleites look forward to the Seafair Weekend Festival, they should think about packing their raincoat or an umbrella.

Leading up to this weekend, highs will be in the mid- to upper 70s, with Friday reaching the mid-80s, according to the National Weather Service.

But Saturday brings a 40% chance of rain, mostly before 11 a.m., and a high near 72. There could be another chance of rain Saturday night, said Matthew Cullen, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

Seafair hydroplane races start at 8:45 a.m. Saturday with testing and qualifying, according to its website, directly overlapping with the system moving in.

The amount of rainfall is not likely to become a downpour, but clouds could create poor visibility for boats on the water, Cullen said.

Seafair goers should get some relief in the afternoon, with clouds predicted to clear, said Kirby Cook, a weather service meteorologist. The air show is set to start at 12:40 p.m., with the Navy Blue Angels flying at 3:30 p.m.

Late July and early August is reliably the driest time of year in Seattle. The average rainfall for Aug. 1 is a hundredth of an inch since 1945, Cook said.

The last two times it rained on Aug. 1 was 2008, with 0.06 inch of precipitation, and 1985, with 0.34 inch of precipitation.

Seafair, a tradition in Seattle for 76 years, brings hydroplanes, the Blue Angels and other celebrations. The festival runs from Friday to Sunday.

Cook says despite possible rain, the weather may be perfect for the fair, offering some relief during the hottest stretch of the year.

“They are prepared for this sort of weather,” Cook said.