Seattle fall equinox weather: ‘Cool start’ as clouds roll in

Leaves are beginning to turn yellow, orange and red, the air is growing cooler and cloudy skies are becoming more frequent.

We’re on the cusp of fall.

After a sunny, warm and summery weekend, Seattle will ease into fall this week like you settle into the couch on a rainy day, spiced tea in hand, nestling in to get a comfortable position. 

Monday, the last day of summer, will have the warmest weather we’ll see all week. The morning will start with some fog and low clouds before most of it burns off, said National Weather Service meteorologist Dana Felton. The afternoon will turn sunny, and we’ll have a high of around 70.

Then, as if on cue, the autumn weather will blanket the city on the first day of fall Tuesday. The change of season officially happens at 5:05 p.m.

A weak convergence zone will bring a bit of drizzle and some low clouds on the fall equinox, Felton said. The sun will come out in the afternoon, but highs will top out in the upper 60s. 

“It’ll be a cool start to fall,” Felton said Monday morning.

The weak system will dissipate Wednesday, but the clouds will stick around, covering the city and keeping us cool in the high 60s, he said. 

Thursday will look much the same until a consolidated system rolls in that night, which will carry into Friday afternoon. Throughout the end of the week, we could get about a quarter- to half-inch of rain while temperatures drop to the mid 60s.

Nestle into the couch as the clouds roll in and try not to mourn summer’s exit. Breathe in the crisp fall air and bake an apple pie or warm a mug of apple cider and throw on your first fall sweater.

Smile and let Seattle be good at what it’s good at: being wet and gray. 

The rain will be out of here by the weekend, anyway. The clouds will stick around, though, and temperatures won’t get any higher than low to mid 60s, Felton said. 

From here on out, the average high temperatures will drop from about 70 as we lunge deeper into fall, Felton said. By October 1, the average temperature will be only 66.