Record-breaking heat wave set to grip western Washington

A record-breaking heat wave is bearing down on western Washington this weekend, with temperatures forecast to climb into the upper 80s and 90s just as Seattle prepares to host its first 2026 FIFA World Cup match.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory through Monday, warning of moderate heat-risk impacts.

“We expect temperatures across western Washington to peak on Sunday into Monday, where we will see highs for a lot of places reach into the mid-80s all the way up into the upper 90s,” Harrison Rademacher, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Seattle, said.

Seattle’s forecast high of roughly 90 degrees on Monday would break the city’s current record for June 15 of 88 degrees, set in 1963. Sunday’s record of 86, set in 1988, is also likely to fall. Further south, Olympia could see the low 90s, threatening its record highs of 88 for both days.

Monday’s heat arrives on the same day Belgium and Egypt face off in the World Cup at 12 p.m. in Seattle. Rademacher urged fans who plan to attend the match to take precautions.

“Just doing your best to stay hydrated, wearing loose-fitting clothing, wearing sunscreen,” he said, noting that the risk is highest for those more susceptible to heat illness and heat stroke.

Overnight lows are only expected to dip into the low 60s — well above the usual mid-50s. The warm overnight temperatures are tied to the same high-pressure system driving the daytime surge.

The potentially record-breaking heat wave will be short-lived

Relief is in sight. Forecasters expect a cooldown by midweek, with highs dropping back into the mid-70s and breezy winds of 20 to 25 mph returning Tuesday. The rest of June should see temperatures near the seasonal average of around 70 degrees, with a slightly above-average chance of precipitation.

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