Labor Day weekend forecast is fair, but not summery

EVERETT — Families are ready for their typical Labor Day weekend despite this month’s not-so-typical soggy weather.

Today is expected to bring a few showers left over from a front that passed through Friday, said Dennis D’Amico from the National Weather Service in Seattle.

Today’s daytime temperature in the Everett area is predicted to reach 62 degrees.

Sunday should be mostly sunny with some morning clouds, with the temperature still in the high 50s, the weather service reported.

Come Monday, the thermometer most likely will climb into 60s, D’Amico said.

Even though Labor Day promises at least some sunshine, to many people living in Snoho­mish County the weather has felt more like October.

Indeed, the end of this summer has been unusually wet, and the monthly precipitation level is at least double that of a typical August in the area, D’Amico said.

According to the weather service, Seattle even set a new daily rainfall record of 0.17 inches this past Monday, topping 0.14 inches, a record of almost 30 years set in 2004.

The total rainfall this month reached 2.87 inches. Even so, there was no contest with the dank August of 1975, when the rainfall totalled 4.59 inches, D’Amico said.

“Take a little bit of wet and cold weather and let’s call it even for August,” he said.

Still, traffic volumes and accidents are expected to be up during the holiday weekend, Washington State Patrol trooper Keith Leary said.

“We are trying to get people to drive responsibly. Drivers need to make good decisions when they get behind the wheel,” Leary said.

He said alcohol is often to blame for many of the crashes that happen during the holidays.

That’s why extra troopers working long hours and a special camera-equipped aircraft will help ensure that travelers stay safe this Labor Day weekend.

Leary said travelers are urged to prepare for their trips.

Planning ahead, avoiding peak hours and checking the weather forecast will make it easier for everybody to have a fun and safe holiday, he said.

Reporter Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452 or kyefimova@heraldnet.com.