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

Fire crews respond to a helicopter hard landing after the aircraft's engine reportedly lost power n...

Tom Brock

Two aircraft emergencies in Pierce County Saturday

Two aircraft emergencies in Pierce County Saturday resulted in injuries to one pilot. 

1 hour ago

All lanes of SB I-5 near US 12 (MP 68) were blocked Saturday night due to a multi-vehicle collision...

Tom Brock

Thousands remain without electricity after powerful windstorm hits Pacific Northwest

Tens of thousands of homes and businesses are in the dark this morning after strong winds and heavy rain from a storm blew through the Pacific Northwest.

4 hours ago

Rhone Bellevue Square Activewear Award Winning holiday shopping...

Regan Gallo-Fenz

Activewear brand Rhone opens in Bellevue just in time for holiday shopping season

Activewear brand Rhone officially opened its first Washington store in Bellevue on Friday. The new location is the brand's fourth West Coast store.

7 hours ago

rent a mom...

Katrina Guischard

Rent a mom for your college kid? Some parents are spending up to $2,500

These days, some parents aren't just sending their kids off to college with a laptop and a laundry bag — they're sending money to rent a mom!

7 hours ago

This NOAA satellite image shows the magnitude of the storm moving inland from the Pacific Ocean. (P...

Ted Buehner, KIRO Newsradio Meteorologist

What to expect as Western Washington’s first big fall storm arrives Saturday night

The fall season’s first strong weather system will sweep through Western Washington tonight, bringing strong winds and rain.

22 hours ago

Pierce County man sentenced child sex crimes...

Regan Gallo-Fenz

Pierce County man sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for child sex crimes

A Pierce County man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after attempting to arrange the sexual abuse of children and producing child sexual abuse material, federal prosecutors announced.

1 day ago

Seattle area continues march toward record dry streak despite thunderstorms