MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Seattle area continues march toward record dry streak despite thunderstorms

Aug 4, 2021, 7:27 AM | Updated: 9:56 am

Seattle dry streak...

The sunset near the National Weather Service's Seattle headquarters. (NWS Seattle, Twitter)

(NWS Seattle, Twitter)

While parts of the Puget Sound region experienced thunderstorms late Tuesday, a record dry streak in the Seattle area continued.

State shatters records amid ‘early, alarming’ start to wildfire season

How can downpours hit parts of Seattle itself and still lead to a continuation of a dry streak, quickly approaching an all-time record? That’s due to the fact that the National Weather Service measures rainfall at Sea-Tac Airport, where wet weather hasn’t been seen in 50 days as of Tuesday.

The region’s ever-shifting weather patterns were on full display Tuesday, with Boeing Field even seeing rain, despite neighboring Sea-Tac remaining virtually untouched by thunderstorms that eventually moved further north into White Center, West Seattle, and Seattle proper.

The record for dry days at Sea-Tac is 55 days, set in 2017. The current streak is expected to tick up to 51 days by the end of Wednesday. It could soon be threatened again on Thursday and Friday with a chance of showers. That said, recent forecasts indicate that chance may be dwindling.

“For Friday, what had looked like a promising wetting rain is beginning to look a bit more moisture starved,” the NWS said.

There’s also a possibility that rain could move in on Sunday or Monday. If conditions at Sea-Tac remain dry on Sunday, though, that will officially tie 2017’s 55-day record.

MyNorthwest News

(Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)...

KIRO Newsradio staff

Early morning shooting in downtown Tacoma leaves two dead, one injured

Police in Tacoma are investigating the deaths of two men following a shooting in the city's downtown area.

10 hours ago

A photo of a bald eagle. (Photo: Jonathan Bachman, Getty Images)...

MyNorthwest Staff

Lummi Nation member pleads guilty to federal charges after two bald eagles allegedly shot

A 39-year-old Lummi Nation member pleaded guilty Thursday to illegal firearms possession and two violations of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

16 hours ago

The location of the Vertical Evacuation Tower will be near the Westport Marina. It will be the thir...

Tom Brock

Rising above the risk: Westport breaks ground on Washington’s newest tsunami refuge

The city of Westport broke ground Saturday on what will become Washington state's latest tsunami-safe location: a new vertical evacuation tower.

1 day ago

Dolly Parton...

Associated Press

Dolly Parton’s nephew wants more time to defend himself against restraining order from her estate

Dolly Parton’s nephew wants more time to get a lawyer in place to defend himself against a temporary restraining order.

2 days ago

bellingham crash...

MyNorthwest Staff

Northbound I-5 in Bellingham fully reopens after 3-car crash; injuries reported

Northbound I-5 has fully reopened in Bellingham at Iowa St., milepost 253.

2 days ago

coast guard murder 18-year-old...

MyNorthwest Staff

18-year-old charged with murder in Skyway shooting death of Coast Guard officer

An 18-year-old Covington man is now charged with second-degree murder in the August shooting death of Coast Guard Lt. Connor Overstreet.

2 days ago

Seattle area continues march toward record dry streak despite thunderstorms