Western Washington breaks March high temp records ahead of rain
Mar 12, 2018, 7:09 AM | Updated: 4:05 pm
The standards for being being a considered a local are a bit tough. (Matt Pitman/ KIRO Radio)
(Matt Pitman/ KIRO Radio)
Monday’s high temperatures broke weather records throughout Western Washington, making it the region’s warmest day since September.
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Sea-Tac Airport recorded a temperature of 71 degrees at 12:35 p.m. This is the earliest time of the year that the airport has ever recorded reaching such warm temps.
Bellingham also hit a new high of 65 degrees. The previous record for March 12 was set in 1965 at 64 degrees. Olympia broke its all-time high of 67 degrees (last recorded in 1994), reaching 68 degrees around 3 p.m.
Out on the coast, Quillayute and Hoquiam also broke records, reaching 69 degrees. Quillayute’s previous record was 67 degrees, recorded in 1992. Hoquiam’s was 68 degrees, recorded in 1965, according to the National Weather Service.
At 3 PM, #temperatures around W Washington make it seem more like #Summer instead of #Spring. But, all good things must come to an end, & that end will be Tuesday, with rain & breezy weather expected. #WAwx pic.twitter.com/Cl6pS4PnDh
— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) March 12, 2018
Warm weather
The forecast called for temperatures in the high 60s and low 70s throughout Western Washington Monday.
According to the National Weather Service, in more than 120 years of records, Seattle has only seen 70-degree days 30 times in March. Only eight of those days occurred in the first half of the month.
The record-breaking temperatures come ahead of more wet weather for the region. On Tuesday, we will see highs in the low-to-mid-50s. Wednesday will be even chillier, with highs in the mid-to-upper 40s.
Thursday through Sunday will be partly cloudy with average temperatures in the mid-50s.
