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A stretch of sunny, pleasant weather is being felt across the Puget Sound. But how long will it last?

The weather through Friday is expected to stay dry and mild, with mostly clear skies and afternoon highs reaching the mid-60s in much of the region, especially south of King County, according to the.

Friday looks like the warmest day of the week, with parts of Western Washington possibly hitting the low 70s.

Nights will stay seasonably cool, and although the skies will stay calm inland, things remain choppy along the coast. Rough seas and strong winds mean small boat warnings are in place through Wednesday.

As we head into the weekend, things might take a turn. A weather system moving in from the north could bring some spring showers and cooler temperatures starting Saturday. That pattern may stick around into early next week, with a chance of light rain and slightly cooler days across the area.

Later sunsets have returned to Seattle

On Wednesday, April 16, the sun will set at 8:01 p.m., according to NWS. Each day will continue to gain more than 3 minutes of daylight through the end of the month.

Our evenings will keep stretching out—sunsets will get later each day until we hit the summer solstice in June. That’s when Seattle will enjoy its latest sunset of the year, around 9:10 p.m.,

So, why are the days getting longer? It all comes down to Earth’s tilt. During spring and summer, the Northern Hemisphere leans toward the sun, which means longer days for us. And until June, we’ll keep gaining a little more daylight with each passing day.

Whether you’re enjoying the sunshine now or getting ready for some weekend showers, one thing’s clear: spring has truly arrived in the Northwest.