National Weather Service issues heat advisory Monday for Puget Sound
Jul 27, 2020, 6:37 AM | Updated: 7:16 am
People exercise social distancing at Alki Beach Park on March 20, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Karen Ducey/Getty Images)
(Photo by Karen Ducey/Getty Images)
Temperatures in the Puget Sound region recorded Sunday, July 26, made it the hottest day of the year in many places, and Monday is expected to be even warmer.
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The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued a heat advisory warning from 9 a.m. Monday morning to 8 p.m. this evening for the Tacoma Area, Lower Chehalis Valley Area, Southwest Interior, and Seattle and vicinity. Temperatures of 90-95 degrees are expected.
The high temperatures cause a “moderate risk for heat-related illnesses,” especially for those without cooling or adequate hydration, warns the NWS.
Cliff Mass, atmospheric sciences professor at the University of Washington, also warned Friday of a coming heat wave for the start of the week.
The cool weather seen in the Pacific Northwest last week had been associated with an upper-level trough of low pressure over the region, according to Mass. Over the weekend and into Monday, a ridge of high pressure would build along the West Coast, which brings sinking and warming air over the region. Additionally, Mass said, inland pressure rises result in offshore flow that cuts off Western Washington and Oregon from cool, coastal air.
Monday is expected to be the warmest day of the sequence, following a warm Saturday and Sunday. Mass says the Columbia Basin and Willamette Valley could top 100 degrees Fahrenheit, while Seattle will get into the upper 80s, near 90.
For the rest of the week, there’s cooling expected thanks to a weak marine push, Mass says, and even a chance of rain later in the week.
Public Health Seattle-King County provided hot weather tips during a pandemic, recognizing that with safety measures in place for COVID-19, the usual air-conditioned comforts of movie theaters and malls are closed. Even many pools, beaches, and trails are closed to help limit the spread of the virus.
While wearing a face covering is key to preventing the spread of COVID-19, public health officials do say it can sometimes contribute to overheating. If possible, they recommend not spending time in hot indoor and outdoor spaces where you also need to wear a face covering. If you need to take a “mask break,” make sure you are distancing from others by at least 6 feet, remove it to breathe and cool down, and then put it back on before returning to the venue or activity.
