Prolonged ‘warm spell’ expected in Seattle as things heat up
Jul 13, 2018, 9:03 AM | Updated: 5:05 pm
(KIRO Radio/Matt Pitman)
(KIRO Radio/Matt Pitman)
The Puget Sound region is in for a “prolonged, very warm spell,” the National Weather Service reports.
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It will likely remain in the 80s until Sunday when KIRO 7 Meteorologist Nick Allard says it could reach 91 degrees. It’s possible we could even reach 92, tying the temperature record for July 15, he says.
Seattle reached 84 degrees by 4 p.m. It was 97 in Ellensburg and 98 in Wenatchee.
Monday could be much of the same.
There’s a possibility a heat advisory will be issued for Sunday and Monday for much of Western Washington, except along the coast, according to the National Weather Service. A heat advisory means there will be a period of hot temperatures and high humidity that could lead to heat-related illness.
“With warm and dry conditions, anyone who is outside should take periodic breaks…” National Weather Service Meteorologist Steven Reedy warns.
Thursday’s high
Thursday’s high was around 14 degrees warmer than the average. Seattle reached 89 degrees around 3 p.m. — it’s typically in the mid-70s, according to data from the Weather Service.
The record high for July 12 is 97 degrees, set in 1961.
Fire danger
This heat also means increased fire danger. Some areas of Western Washington have received approximately 20 percent of normal rainfall since May 1.
“As dry weather continues, we’re going to see a lot of the vegetation in the area to dry out,” Reedy says. “As such, it won’t take much for that to ignite.”
Burn bans for Pierce and Kitsap counties went into effect Thursday, July 12. Snohomish, Whatcom, and Island counties issued burn bans Friday morning. King County joins the group Saturday, July 14.
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