Seattle sees its hottest day of 2023 Tuesday; break from heat comes Friday

Western Washington has been feeling the heat for several days and it has been capped off by what is now officially the hottest day of the year for the Seattle area.

Temperatures topped out at 95 degrees at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Tuesday, KIRO 7 Chief Meteorologist Morgan Palmer said.

That falls just short of the record for the day. That record was set Aug. 15, 2010 when it hit 96 degrees.

95° for #Seattle at @FlySEA — the warmest day of the year and one degree shy of a daily record high. It’s 100° at Shelton and Orting at 4 p.m.
LIVE: https://t.co/if8tqjkiYp pic.twitter.com/0m4HL7zi2w

— Morgan Palmer (@MorganKIRO7) August 15, 2023

It is going to take another couple of days for the heat to break as we’re in the middle of some of the highest temperatures we’ll endure all summer.

The duration of this heat wave, which began Sunday, and the high overnight temperatures are creating problems across the region.

Temperatures will remain above average through Thursday, with excessive heat warnings lasting through Wednesday.

Wednesday, the high pressure ridge responsible for the heat will be weakening over the area, and that means a degree or two off the highs from today, Palmer noted in a separate report. But it still will be very hot with 80s and 90s widespread. The forecast high of 92 in Seattle would make it the fifth 90-degree day this year. The coast will again be much cooler.

More weather-related information: Where to find cooling centers around Washington, heat wave forecasted

The dangerous heat wave will continue as a strong ridge of high pressure remains in place, with most of the region under heat-related advisories and warnings. High temperatures will be in the 90s around Puget Sound. Overnight lows will remain warm.

These temperatures, combined with the duration of heat that is expected to continue through this week, will increasingly pose a heightened health risk, especially for those without adequate air conditioning.

“What makes this dangerous … is that we’re not going to have quite cool enough temperatures at night time to give us the reprieves our body needs,” JJ Edge, King County Public Health’s emergency preparedness planner, said to KIRO Newsradio.

From Jason Rantz: Innovative tips to stay cool during Seattle heat wave

In response to continued hot/dry weather, the King County Fire Chiefs, in coordination with the King County Fire Chiefs Association and the Association of King County Fire Marshals, implemented a Stage 2 Complete Burn Ban in the county Tuesday, according to a press release.

“The ban prohibits all outdoor fires, including recreational campfires, pellet fire pits, cooking fires, and ceremonial fires,” the release reads. “The ban will remain in effect until further notice.”

KIRO 7 meteorologist Nick Allard said temperatures in the 90s and high 80s will continue. Much cooler on Friday and through the weekend, with highs in the 70s. Sunny skies will continue.

As hot as it is here, Portland reached 108 degrees today. A record for August.

Contributing: KIRO 7; Steve Coogan