Key Points
- Transition into Fall Well Underway: Cliff Mass, professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Washington, states that the transition between summer weather and fall weather has officially begun in Western Washington.
- Rainy Weather Unrelated: The sprinkles of rain currently affecting the area are unrelated to the current weather pattern.
- Dry Weather Intermittent Period: It will be relatively dry in the coming days until the arrival of a powerful wet weather system.
- Rainy Weather Expected Next Weekend: Next weekend will see approximately one inch of rain in the area, which will be enough to make everything soggy.
- End of Irrigation Season: It will be enough rain to water all the gardens and nature in general, thus marking the end of the irrigation season forever. C
- ooler Weather on its Way: The daily temperatures are expected to fall to the upper 60s range, thus marking the end of summer heat waves.
- Typical Development of Seasons: Responding to questions from the concerned public, Mass denied the possibility of El Niño causing such weather, stating that it is entirely normal.
Seattle (Evening Washington News) September 5, 2026 — Western Washington is rapidly losing the remaining vestiges of summer, with regional experts warning that a profound seasonal shift is underway and a substantial soaking is roughly a week away.
Is Western Washington’s Summer Officially Over?
As reported by Seattle Red Staff, University of Washington atmospheric sciences professor Cliff Mass has cautioned residents that the region’s classic fall transition has already begun. While lowlands have experienced the passage of the first fall-like storm system of the season this week, experts note that the light sprinkles currently dampening parts of the area are merely a precursor rather than the main meteorological event.
Elucidating the timeline for the coming days, Mass explained that a relatively dry interlude will persist across Western Washington for the next several days. However, this brief respite will pave the way for a much stronger, moisture-laden weather system projected to sweep through the region by next weekend.
How Much Rain Can Residents Expect Next Weekend?
Moving beyond general forecasts, Mass provided specific numerical projections for the impending storm during an appearance on The Jason Rantz Show on Seattle Red 770 AM.
As reported by Seattle Red Staff, Mass stated that:
“Well, I wouldn’t be scared, but we’re talking in the order, you know, here in Western Washington, the order of an inch of rain, which is enough to, you know, dampen things down. So, you know, we’re going to get to the point where you’re not going to have to water anymore, you know, past next weekend, I think you can forget about having to water your garden or whatever outside.”
According to the analysis shared on The Jason Rantz Show, this volume of precipitation will easily provide enough moisture to sustain local vegetation naturally. Consequently, homeowners and gardeners can completely conclude their outdoor watering routines as the soil receives its first deep autumn replenishment.
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What Will Happen to Regional Temperatures?
Along with the arrival of meaningful moisture, the atmospheric shift will bring a definitive drop in ambient temperatures across the Pacific Northwest.
As reported by Seattle Red Staff detailing Mass’s remarks on The Jason Rantz Show, daytime highs are predicted to recede significantly:
“There’ll be enough rain to sustain things, so, and the temperatures will cool down. Highs will only get up into the up upper 60s. So, so it’s way cooler, you know, no heat waves, forget the heat waves.”
This cooling trend effectively marks the closure of the window for late-season heat waves, aligning the regional climate with traditional September climatology.
Is El Niño Driving the Early Fall Transition?
With weather patterns frequently subjected to shifting global indices, questions have been raised regarding whether the phenomenon known as El Niño is responsible for triggering an early end to summer. Addressing these inquiries directly, Mass dismissed the notion.
As reported by Seattle Red Staff, when asked whether El Niño deserves the blame for the abrupt meteorological pivot, Mass asserted:
“You know, this is pretty typical, average stuff. You know, this is not remarkable. This is the way it always is.”
Furthermore, Mass noted that historical correlations between El Niño and local weather anomalies typically do not manifest until much later in the fall and winter seasons, reinforcing that the current atmospheric evolution follows standard historical averages for Western Washington.
