A surface thermal trough has now moved east of the Cascades, ushering in an increase in onshore flow with winds currently beginning to pick up over the area waters. The strongest winds (that is, most consistently around 20-25 kt) will remain over the outer coastal waters, but with frequent gusts to 25 kt over all of the coastal zones, as well as in the Central and Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Small Craft Advisories will continue through tomorrow evening. With a weak frontal system dropping north of the area Sunday night and Monday, expect the onshore flow to further increase. Have upgraded the Gale Watch to a warning for the Central and East Strait of Juan de Fuca for late Sunday as a result. Additional frontal systems will continue to cross the waters through much of next week, with winds periodically building to near advisory thresholds. Seas are currently rather choppy, around 6 ft at 7 s, for which the Small Craft Advisory also encompasses. Seas will build a bit with each passing system to 7 to 9 ft, with periods remaining short, around 7 to 9 seconds, through the middle of next week. Cullen/LH (Issued: 752 PM PDT Sat May 11 2024 by NOAA)