Seattle’s hottest weekend of 2026 arrives just in time for the First World Cup match Monday

The year’s warmest weather of the year thus far is set for this weekend into Monday. And Monday is the first World Cup game to be held on the pitch at Seattle Stadium (Lumen Field), starting at 12 p.m., meaning it will be during the hottest time of the day.

What’s driving this unseasonably warm weather

Higher pressure aloft has begun building off the coast and is expected to reach its peak Monday as the weather system moves over the Pacific Northwest. At the surface, low-level flow is expected to turn offshore with wind flow blowing toward the Pacific Ocean.

This weather combination will result in clear skies and warming temperatures of about five degrees or so each day through Monday. By this weekend, high temperatures are expected to climb well into the 80s, with some of the usual warm locations in Western Washington cracking the 90-degree mark – the warmest so far this year.

Daily record high temperatures are quite likely to fall. Below are some current record highs at selected locations in Western Washington.

June 14: 86 degrees at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (1988), 77 degrees in Everett — Paine Field (1999), 88 degrees in Olympia (1988), 83 degrees in Bellingham (1988), and 79 degrees in Hoquiam (1988).

June 15: 88 degrees at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (1963), 78 degrees in Everett — Paine Field (2015), 88 degrees in Olympia (1963), 82 degrees in Bellingham (1961), and 81 degrees in Hoquiam (1961).

Temperatures climbing into the 90s are not common this time of year, yet are not unheard of either. Last year, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) hit 90 degrees on June 8. According to Senior Forecaster Dana Felton of the National Weather Service office in Seattle, only 7% of the 90-degree or greater days at SEA have occurred in May and the first half of June (19 days out of 276).

For those seeking cooler conditions during this period of early-season hot weather, the shorelines of Puget Sound, the Salish Sea, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the outer coastal region will offer some relief. Just remember, area waterways, including lakes and rivers, are quite cold, with water temperatures in the 50s to lower 60s.

Precautions during hot weather

If unable to travel to cooler locations, here are some steps to stay cool and avoid heat-related health concerns:

• Seek air-conditioned facilities such as shopping malls and theaters.
• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and avoid alcoholic beverages.
• During the heat of the day, avoid strenuous activities like running or jogging, and if working outdoors, take breaks and drink plenty of water.
• Avoid leaving children and pets in cars, even if for just a few minutes. Temperatures inside a vehicle can soar to well above 100 degrees in less than 10 minutes, even with the windows open. Remember – Beat the Heat, Check the Back Seat!
• The most vulnerable to prolonged heat are the elderly, the very young, and those with heart-related medical conditions. Check on these family members, friends, or neighbors to help ensure they are doing okay.
• Wear light, loose-fitting clothing to help reflect the heat.
• Area waterways also offer cooling relief. Just remember to wear a properly fitting U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. Area waterways are still cold. Accidentally falling into such cold water results in cold water shock — like stepping into a cold shower — the leading cause of drownings across the state.

Heat risk tool

This big warm-up following the recent cool, wet weather is going to be a shock to many people and create rather dramatic health impacts. The region has not had such hot weather since mid-September last year.

The majority of heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and even heat stroke, occur early in the warm season.

Be sure to monitor the latest weather forecast and information about this hot weather. The National Weather Service (NWS) has a publicly available heat-related resource called HeatRisk.

This resource is a color-coded numeric index that shows a forecast of heat-related impacts. HeatRisk takes into account how unusual the heat is for the time of year, the number of days with expected hot weather (including both daytime and overnight temperatures), and the elevated risk of heat-related health impacts.

Cooler weather coming

The unseasonably warm weather pattern is anticipated to moderate by the middle of next week. The strong high-pressure system aloft is expected to weaken and move inland on Tuesday, and low-level flow will return onshore, bringing cooler air from the Pacific Ocean.

The cooling will begin along the coast Monday night into Tuesday and continue Wednesday. Temperatures in the western interior should drop about five to 10 degrees on Tuesday, with highs in the 80s. On Wednesday morning, marine clouds should invade parts of the interior, with high temperatures dropping down into the more comfortable lower to mid-70s.

So this period of early-season hot weather will be short-lived. Those attending the World Cup game on Monday should definitely be prepared for quite warm conditions. Wear sunscreen, sunglasses, and wide-brim hats, and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

More ‘hot’ weather is likely as the calendar rolls over into the summer season. The summer solstice is just over a week away. The latest seasonal weather outlook continues to reflect warmer and drier-than-average conditions through September. The time is now to prepare.

Ted Buehner is the KIRO Newsradio meteorologist. Follow him on X and Bluesky. Read more of his stories here.