Harger: Save ‘extreme’ for real emergencies, not 89 degrees
Aug 25, 2025, 7:44 AM
Heat waves rise near a heat danger warning sign. (Photo: David McNew, Getty Images)
(Photo: David McNew, Getty Images)
It was hot this weekend, but the “extreme” heat warning in Seattle was a little over the top. It wasn’t as hot as Phoenix or Las Vegas, but hot enough to make most of us cranky.
We hit 90 degrees in my neighborhood near Lake Tapps on Saturday. Eighty-nine yesterday. That’s plenty uncomfortable if you were stuck outside without shade or AC.
But then came the alerts, pinging on my phone apps. An “Extreme Heat Warning” was issued by the National Weather Service.
My dog Ralph, who passed out on the cool kitchen floor all weekend long, was not impressed. He’s seen extreme, but that involves squirrels.
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Extreme? For 89 degrees?
Look, I remember the heat dome of 2021. I remember what 108 degrees felt like; that was extreme. This past weekend was… August.
Now, in fairness, there’s a reason for this. The Weather Service recently simplified its system. The old term, “excessive heat,” wasn’t cutting through the noise. They’re trying to get our attention, and for good reason. Heat is a serious health risk, especially for those who are vulnerable.
I get it. They’re trying to save lives, but I’m not sure this heat wave is what a lot of us have in mind when we hear “extreme.” If 88 degrees is “extreme,” what are we supposed to call 108? “A mild taste of the apocalypse?”
At some point, the words lose their punch, and people stop listening. That’s the real risk here. It’s the boy who cried wolf, meteorology edition. You cry “extreme” for a garden-variety hot day, and you train people to ignore you. When the real thing comes (and it will), the warning will sound like more noise.
And since I do make a living with words, I have a few alternate suggestions for the Weather Service:
How about: “Sweaty but survivable?”
Maybe: “Annoyingly hot, plan your errands early?”
Or: “Good luck sleeping without AC.”
Simple, honest, and nobody has to wonder what “extreme” actually means.
My dog Ralph has the right idea. Save your extreme warnings for the real emergencies, like squirrels.
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Charlie Harger is the host of “Seattle’s Morning News” on KIRO Newsradio. You can read more of his stories and commentaries here. Follow Charlie on X and email him here.
