Washingtonians: What air temperature is ‘hot’ to you?

Much warmer weather returns to the Puget Sound area next week. Fortunately, it will not involve the déjà vu of last year’s heat dome, nor what the middle of the country or even Western Europe is currently experiencing. But temperatures here are expected to climb well into the 80s, with some places rising above 90 degrees.

Western WA braces for heatwave with next-week highs forecasted in 90s

These warm temperatures beg the question, what is the definition of hot? From one Puget Sound resident to another, that hot temperature threshold varies widely. So, let’s ask the question here in a fun poll. In what temperature range does it become hot for you?

For our local Seattleites: At what temperature do you consider the weather “hot”? #wawx

— MyNorthwest 🌲 (@Mynorthwest) July 19, 2022

The latter part of July is usually the warmest time of the year. Prior to last year’s heat dome’s new, all-time record high of 108 degrees at SeaTac Airport on June 28th, the previous all-time record high was 103 degrees on July 29th, 2009.

Stay tuned as next week’s weather forecast gets more finely tuned to help pin down how warm it will get. Yet, these poll results will help better define what many in the Puget Sound area feel is ‘hot’.

If heading to our area waterways to cool down, be sure to wear a lifejacket. Water temperatures remain quite cold. Lifejackets help save lives when falling into those cold waters.