Excessive heat warning for Cascade lowlands to take effect Wednesday

Update 8/16:

The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for the Cascade Valley region of Western Washington from noon Wednesday until midnight Thursday night.

The Cascade valley area, including Marblemount, Darrington, Packwood, and Morton, will see highs in the 90s through Thursday.

An Excessive Heat Warning has been issued for the Cascades below 2000 feet from noon Wednesday until midnight Thursday night. Cascade valley locations ( Marblemount, Darrington, Packwood, Morton for example ) will see highs in the mid 90s to near 100 Wednesday & Thursday. #wawx pic.twitter.com/nFic7yuYBR

— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) August 16, 2022

8/14

Another period of warmer than average weather is on tap this week.

Higher pressure aloft over the Rocky Mountain region, already producing hot dry weather there, is expected to bulge over the Pacific NW by mid-week. This weather feature is forecast to push temperatures back up into the 80s across much of the North Sound, and potentially above 90 degrees in even warmer locations such as the Cascade valleys.

Overnight temperatures are once again expected to be quite warm — in the upper 50s and 60s.

With longer nights now, it becomes tougher to hit the 90-degree mark in Seattle, yet it can and has happened.

SeaTac has hit 90 or higher 10 times already this year. SeaTac’s most frequent number of 90-degree days was recorded in 2015 when it reached that mark 12 times.

Seattle area had six deaths blamed on last week’s heat wave

Quite warm days this time of year tend to “spike” – rise up and then drop again as opposed to July’s heat wave when the hottest time period of the day looks more like a bell curve.

With yet more very warm weather ahead, now is the time to prepare. Remember to avoid physical activities during the heat of the day, drink plenty of water, and seek shade or air-conditioned facilities periodically. If driving and parking, beat the heat – check the back seat. Avoid leaving children and pets in a hot car, even for only 5 minutes.

If longer-range forecasts are accurate, the heat may wane over the weekend but may resume the following week.