Excessive heat watch issued for Puget Sound area

The National Weather Service says hot weather will continue through the weekend across Washington.

Forecasters have taken the additional step of issuing an excessive heat watch for Thursday and Friday for the Puget Sound region and southwest interior.

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An offshore flow is pushing temperatures into the 90s, and even at night the temperatures will barely drop below 70.

Some marine air should ease temperatures for the weekend in Western Washington.

Forecasters say Eastern Washington will remain in the 90s through the weekend with a chance of thunderstorms.

Along with the heat, the smog in King and Pierce counties could reach unhealthy levels by this weekend.

Phil Swartzendruber, with the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, says the smog could trigger asthma attacks and make breathing difficult.

“We have quite an interesting situation. Normally we’re just worried about the smog in the ozone, which is enough definitely to be worried about, but we may have to add some smoke into that as well,” says Swartzendruber, speaking of the impact from the wildfire in Central Washington.

The most dangerous time of day is the sunny afternoon, he says. Smog levels naturally drop down at night.

With the smog level increase, Swartzendruber says certain people need to be especially careful.

“If you’re a sensitive group, children or elderly, you want to be careful and not be out in those conditions. If you can, find a cool, air conditioned place inside to hang out.”

He says anyone who’s sensitive to air pollution should limit their time spent outdoors over the next couple days.