Category Archives: Weather

Local, Weather

Seatle’s burning question – is it hot enough to bake cookies on the dashboard of a truck?

[KIRKLAND] – (MTN) The record isn’t officially in, but SeaTac Airport got to at least 106 degrees with an unexpected west wind helping keep things cooler than forecasted. Less than 20 miles to the northeast, Bellevue and Kirkland appear to be the regional hot spots with temperatures from 108 to 114 throughout the area. So the question of the afternoon is, is it hot enough to bake cookies on the dashboard of a car?

You may have seen the videos of people putting prepared cookie dough a foil lined cookie sheet in a car during the heat of the day, and eating baked or semi-baked cookies a couple of hours later. We’re putting it to the test.

We bought an 88 cent Kroger brand 12-pack of break and bake cookie dough and put it on a foil-lined pan in our company truck. The truck has been parked all day, and the dashboard is facing due west with direct sun. The temperature according to our weather station is 111 degrees and a thermometer we put inside the truck had gone past the 120-degree mark and was pointing at the -60, so roughly 155-160 degrees inside.

We put the cookies in at 4:01 PM and we’ll see if we can have milk and cookie time at 6:00 PM. Do you think they’ll be ready?

Check back later tonight for the verdict.

Breaking News, Local, Weather

‘Never seen data like this before’ – Seattle prepares for the unimaginable

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[SEATTLE] – (MTN) Seattle officials gathered to outline the city’s planned response for the historic heatwave that will bake our region in the coming days. The city has activated the Emergency Operations Center and is working on a multiagency response to protect vulnerable residents of the area.

The National Weather Service issued an Excessive Heat Warning this afternoon, effective from 2 PM Friday to 9 PM Monday. Forecasters stated in today’s press conference, “we have never seen data like this before.” Forecast models indicate that Monday could soar to 108 degrees, which would shatter the all-time record high set in 2009.

A 24-hour emergency shelter will be opened at the Fisher Pavilion, which can accommodate up to 73 people and will be managed by the Salvation Army. The city is scrambling to open as many libraries as possible but is struggling with staffing the locations. The plan calls to have 7 libraries, including the Central Library downtown, open on Saturday, 5 on Sunday, and 3 on Monday. Later in the week, the city hopes to have 6 to 10 libraries open daily. An exact list will be available on the Seattle Public Library website.

Seattle’s Senior Centers have been closed due to COVID. The city is working to open the Greenwood, Pike Place, West Seattle, Southeast Seattle, Central Area, and Wallingford Community Senior Centers. People are advised to call ahead to confirm hours for each day. The city already started distributing fans to vulnerable seniors earlier this week.

The Lake City Community Center will be open from 9 AM to 6 PM and will have evaporative coolers to provide some comfort in the non-airconditioned facility. The International District Community Center will also be open from 2 PM to 8 PM for cooling.

Seattle City Parks and Recreation will have 8 of the 9 area beaches open starting on Saturday from 11 AM to 7 PM. The only beach closure is East Greenlake, but West Greenlake will be open. A spokesperson stated the reason for the closure was due to staffing. Additionally, the city is reopening indoor and outdoor pools, wading pools, and spray parks to the public. The 11 wading pools and six spray pools will be open from noon to 7 PM. The city’s two indoor pools and two outdoor pools will be open following their normal schedule before COVID closed the facilities down. Mayor Durkan stated that 100 public drinking fountains are now operational in the city, and they are working around the clock to turn and fix as many as possible.

Seattle City Parks also asked parents to test surface temperatures of playground equipment and surfaces to make sure they are not too hot. A spokesperson stated it could be possible to get burns.

The Seattle Fire Department has suspended training for the weekend to provide the maximum staff level and will distribute water to the public from 9 AM to 6 PM. Both Health One units will be operating over the weekend. COVID testing and vaccination sites will operate as planned, including the planned pop-up vaccination centers at Seattle Pride on 11th a the corner of Cal Anderson Park from 1 PM to 5 PM on Saturday. The HOPE Team will be performing welfare checks on the elderly and the unhomed.

Seattle City Light believes that the electrical grid will not be overwhelmed with this heat event, with peak usage typically in the wintertime. A spokesperson indicated that historically the highest demand used 75% of capacity, and summertime demand typically peaks at 50%. They will be monitoring for any possible wildfires that could threaten transmission rights of way. Finally, all planned outages for maintenance this weekend have been canceled.

The city has canceled all planned road projects this weekend (state projects may still go forward) and will be spraying bridges with water to prevent them from warping or the surfaces buckling due to the heat.

Employers who have people work outside or in non-airconditioned facilities were urged to allow workers to take frequent breaks in cool or shaded areas and have drinking water available.

Breaking News, Local, Weather

Historic, unprecedented, and dangerous – heatwave will shatter weather records

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[KIRKLAND] – (MTN) Meteorologists around the world have their eyes on the Pacific Northwest as an unprecedented and historic heatwave will send temperatures to dangerous levels never seen in the Seattle area. A strong upper-level ridge, an area of high pressure, is building off the coast of Washington and will park over British Columbia this weekend. Forecasting models have been consistent for almost a week, and what was disbelief a few days ago has turned into shock.

Hot will it get? Seattle will be hotter than Miami, Houston or Jerusalem, and forecasted temperatures will rival Yuma, Arizona and Cairo, Egypt.

During a typical heatwave, like the one the region experienced in July 2009, an area of high pressure forms over the four corners region of the United States and drifts northwest off our coast. These systems create an onshore flow, pulling dry warm air from eastern Washington into the Puget Sound lowlands and blocking the cool marine air of the Pacific Ocean.

East winds send air down the Cascades causing the air to compress. The compression squeezes out the moisture and warms the air, giving us our 90 plus degree days in the lowlands, and sometimes very strong winds in the foothills in towns like North Bend and Issaquah. For our coming heatwave the location of the ridge, how fast it is building, and how intense it is, has never occurred.

Normal highs for June are the high 60s to low 70s, so even our “cool” day on Wednesday with a high of 77 was above normal. Thursday will be pleasant before the blowtorch is pointed at the region.

Thursday: The marine layer and low clouds that came in this morning didn’t push as far inland as yesterday. Today will be sunny with some possible high clouds north of the Kirkland-Bellevue-Woodinville area. Temperatures will be 79 to 83 degrees.

Thursday Night: A marine layer will try to push in from the coast one last time, but it won’t make it to our area. It will be partly cloudy before dawn, with temperatures from 59 to 63.

Friday: The onshore flow will start and intensify through the day. Friday will be similar to Monday this week with sunny skies and temperatures from 87 to 91 degrees. Winds will be light.

Friday Night: With high pressure building to our north, hot air from the desert southwest will flood into our region. Friday night lows will be 64 to 68 degrees under clear skies.

Saturday: Hot air will entrench into the region, sending temperatures soaring. The further away from the water and south you go the hotter it will get. Highs on Saturday will be 97 to 101 in the Kirkland-Bellevue-Woodinville area. It may be slightly cooler right on the shore of Lake Washington. Our hot spots like downtown Bellevue, Totem Lake, and Kingsgate will see the highest temperatures. Saturday’s record high is 93 degrees set at the Federal Building (91 at SeaTac Airport), and both records will be smashed. The all-time record high for June is 98 degrees, and that record is at risk. If it doesn’t get broken on Saturday, it will get destroyed on Sunday.

Saturday Night: The ridge of high pressure will continue to intensify, providing little relief from the heat. Low temperatures will be record-setting, dropping only to 69 to 73 degrees under clear skies.

Sunday: It will be historically and dangerously hot. High temperatures will soar to 102 to 106 degrees through our area under sunny skies. The record high for Seattle is 91, and it will be obliterated. The all-time record high for Seattle is 103 degrees, set on July 29, 2009. That record is at risk of being broken.

Sunday Night: Historically hot with the highest low temperatures in Seattle history. Lows will be 72 to 76 degrees under clear skies with no wind. The heatwave is happening during our longest days of the year, with less than 8 hours between sunset and sunrise, offering little respite from the heat.

Monday: Unprecedently hot with historic and dangerous temperatures. Highs will soar to 103 to 107 degrees under cloudless skies and light winds. The record high for Seattle is 91 degrees and will be shattered.

Monday Night: The ridge of high pressure will finally start to move eastward, allowing cooler air from the coastline to moderate our temperatures. Temperatures will be 65 to 69 degrees under mostly clear skies.

Tuesday: Temperatures will still be 20 to 25 degrees above normal. Highs temperatures will reach 91 to 95 degrees. The record high for Seattle is 93 degrees and will be at risk of being broken.

Typically after heatwaves, our region gets a big push of marine air and returns to near normal temperatures with a cool gray morning. The long-range forecast as far out as we can see shows a very light offshore flow will return, but will not bring a big push of marine air. Temperatures will remain 10 to 15 degrees above normal according to long range models.

Burn bans instated throughout Washington as fire danger soars

The King County Fire Marshall has issued a stage 1 fire safety burn ban effective Thursday until further notice for unincorporated areas of King County. For the Kirkland-Bellevue-Woodinville area, sections of Woodinville are impacted. The ban applies to “all outdoor burning, except for barbecues and small recreational fires in established fire pits at approved campgrounds or private property with the owner’s permission.” An approved fire bit is 25 feet from all structures, 20 feet away from overhanging branches, has no vegetation within 10 feet, is no more than 36″ across, and is made of concrete or metal. The fire must be attended at all times and must be fully extinguished.

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources has also issued multiple burn bans throughout Washington state.

King, Pierce, Kitsap, and Mason counties are under a level 4 burn ban until further notice due to moderate fire danger. Industrial fires are banned, and only recreational fires are allowed and must be attended.

Grays Harbor, Jefferson, and Clallam counties are under a level 2 burn ban until further notice due to moderate fire danger. Rule and permit fires are banned, industrial or debris fires are not allowed, and campfires are allowed only in designated campgrounds on DNR land.

Lewis, Cowlitz, Clark, and Pacific counties are under a level 4 burn ban due to moderate fire danger starting Friday, June 25, until further notice. industrial or debris fires are not allowed, and campfires are allowed only in designated campgrounds on DNR land.

Chelan and Wenatchee counties are under a level 4 burn ban due to high fire danger. Rule and permit fires are banned, industrial or debris fires are not allowed, and campfires are allowed only in designated campgrounds on DNR land.

Power grid in Western Washington should hold, Oregon officials fret

Area officials aren’t concerned about the power grid and its ability to keep up with demand. Seattle is the least air-conditioned city in the continental United States, with only 33.7% of Seattle homes equipped with central air or a room AC unit, compared to 89% of the United States. Many office buildings and commercial spaces remain empty due to COVID restrictions.

Oregon officials are more concerned particularly in the Portland area where 70% of homes now have air conditioning. PGE in Oregon has stated they are ready for the surge in demand and do not anticipate a need to do rolling blackouts in northern Oregon. Temperatures could reach over 110 degrees Saturday to Monday in Portland.

Health and Lifestyle, Local, Safety, Weather

How you can keep it cool during this weekend’s heatwave

[KIRKLAND] – (MTN) Meteorologists don’t toss around words such as historic and unprecedented lightly, but those adjectives perfectly describe the heatwave that starts on Friday. Temperatures of 95 to 105 degrees are dangerous for humans and pets and not typical for the Puget Sound lowlands. 

We have reached out to Kirkland, Bellevue, and King County Health to find out their plans with the community. Kirkland and King County are finalizing their programs, and at publication time, Bellevue has not responded to our request. 

Here are some tips from King County Health and other area experts on dealing with the extreme weather this weekend. If you don’t have access to air conditioning, we can’t promise these tips will keep you from being miserable, but they will help keep you safe.

Stay cool

  • The best way to keep cool is to find air conditioning. If you don’t have access to air conditioning, consider visiting a mall or other cooled public spaces. The indoor mask mandate for COVID ends on June 29, so you will still need to mask up indoors. Locally, Crossroads Mall is a popular place to go to beat the heat.
  • Consider having a staycation at an area hotel with air conditioning. Occupancy rates are low but expect hotels to be booked solid the closer we get to the weekend.  
  • Cover your windows and follow the indoor and outdoor temperatures. In the evening, open your windows as soon as the outside temperature is cooler than the inside temperature. In the morning, close your windows and all your blinds and curtains. You can wrap cardboard with aluminum foil to reflect solar energy from windows that face the west or south. When the inside becomes hotter than the outside, open the windows again.
  • Wear light-colored clothing and dress lightly. Your body can cool itself better.
  • Take a cool-cold shower or bath. If you live in a multistory building with no air conditioning, covering yourself in cold, wet towels can provide some comfort.
  • If you live in a multistory building, move to the lowest level. If you can move to a basement area, you’ll find even more relief.
  • Most in-room portable air conditioners are ineffective. Air conditioners that face outside and can be placed in a window work best. Be sure to secure a portable air conditioner following the manufacturer’s directions.

Stay hydrated

  • Drink plenty of water. If you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated. Watch your urine to check your hydration – it should be straw-colored to clear looking. If it is dark yellow to brown, you could be dangerously dehydrated.
  • Don’t drink alcohol or large amounts of caffeine. Alcohol and caffeinated drinks such as soft drinks, energy drinks, coffee, and tea, dehydrate you.
  • Carry bottled water or a water bottle with you at all times and take frequent small sips. Don’t wait until you feel thirsty to drink.

When outside

  • Limit your time in direct sunlight. Avoid being outside from 11 AM to 6 PM if at all possible. Our heatwave is coming during the longest days of the year in the Puget Sound region. The extended daylight elongates our hottest hours, and peak temperatures typically come between 5 PM and 6 PM this time of the year.
  • Never leave infants, children, or anyone with mobility challenges in a parked car, even with the windows down.
  • Wear sunscreen and reapply frequently. There isn’t much difference in protection above SPF-30. If you get sunburned, you diminish your body’s natural ability to cool down. Don’t swim for 30 minutes after applying sunscreen and reapply when you come out of the water. Consider wearing a swim shirt with UV protection if you’re going to kayak, canoe, or paddleboard. Washington state has one of the highest skin cancer rates in the United States.
  • Wear footwear everywhere. We rarely get so hot in Puget Sound, where sand, concrete, and pavement can burn. Don’t walk on hard surfaces or the beach without footwear. If you are wearing sandals or open shoes, be sure to apply sunscreen to your feet. 

For pets

  • Never leave your pets in a locked car, even if the windows are down.
  • If you have access to air conditioning, it is best to bring your pets inside – if you’re hot, they are hot.
  • If you have outdoor only pets or livestock, ensure they have access to shade and cool surfaces to stand and lie on, such as grass. Enclosed dog houses and chicken coops can get much hotter than outside areas and won’t provide adequate shade.
  • Don’t walk your dog or other pet on hard surfaces like pavement and concrete, even for short distances. Their paws can get burned. If it’s too hot for you to stand still barefoot, it is too hot for them.
  • Provide plenty of water for your pets and livestock. Consider getting a kiddie pool for animals to drink from or lay in to cool off.
  • Do not assume that your electric car or car with a remote starting system will stay running even for a short time. It is best to leave your pet home.
  • It is illegal in Washington for someone who is not a commissioned law enforcement officer or animal control officer to break a car window to rescue a pet in distress. Call 911 first and seek permission for immediate intervention. If you are still compelled to break a window, only do so with third-party witnesses who agree that the animal is in immediate danger.
  • Know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke in your pets
    • Excessive panting
    • Confusion and disorientation
    • Vomiting or diarrhea
    • Bright red gums
    • Body temperature over 104° F.
    • Collapse, seizure, or coma
At 95 degrees, the inside of a car can become dangerous for pets and humans alike in under 10 minutes

Pre-Existing health issues

  • Certain medications can impact your natural ability to deal with hot weather or increase your chances of getting sunburned. If you have questions, contact your medical provider.
  • Do not take salt tablets unless directed by a medical professional.
  • Some medications, such as certain antibiotics, can lose their effectiveness due to sun exposure. Check with your healthcare provider if you have questions.

Water safety

  • All of our bodies of water are still very cold, and hypothermia is possible even on a 100-degree day. Wear a lifejacket (personal floatation device) if you plan to canoe, kayak, paddleboard, waterski, or go boating.
  • Swim in designated areas, preferably with a lifeguard. Do not swim alone, and do not swim outside of your abilities.
  • Never allow children to swim unsupervised.
  • Don’t leave backyard pools, even above ground or shallow portable pools, unsecured. If you own a private pool, check to make sure your gate is up to code and the safety latches operate correctly.
  • If you plan to tube, raft, kayak, or canoe in our area rivers, stay within your ability. High temperatures increase snowpack and ice melt, raising river levels, increasing flow, and lowering temperatures.
    • Never do water recreation near low head dams. If you go over, the currents at the base of the dam are almost impossible to escape.
    • If you find yourself in white water, try to head downstream feet first and face up to prevent head injuries, and see where you are going. Don’t panic, and try to steer yourself to where you can get out of the water, even if that means becoming stranded mid-river and waiting for rescue.
    • Avoid down trees in the water, also known as strainers and plan your route around them. It is extremely difficult to escape from the branches due to the water pressure pushing against your body. 
    • Never dive in areas where you don’t know the depth or unaware of any possible underwater obstacles.

Protecting others

  • If you have friends or family who are elderly or have mobility challenges, do periodic welfare checks, especially if they don’t have access to air conditioning.
  • The extreme heat will dramatically increase fire danger, even in the urban areas of the lowlands. Refrain from using fireworks, which are currently illegal in all areas of King County. If you use a backyard fire pit, make sure the fire is completely extinguished, and there are no hot embers when you are done using it.
  • The houseless community has fewer options for getting out of the heat. Donations of bottled water and non-caffeinated sports drinks will help keep the unhomed community safe.

Recognizing heat-related injuries – heat exhaustion and heat stroke

  • Heat exhaustion is caused when a person’s body can’t cool down quickly enough. Know the symptoms:
    • Muscle cramps, especially in the arms, legs, and abdomen
    • Weakness
    • Dizziness
    • Extreme thirst
    • Headache
    • Nausea
    • Vomiting
  • If you see someone exhibiting these symptoms, move them to a cool area, have them slowly sip water or a sports beverage. If they do not start feeling better after 30 minutes, seek medical attention for heat stroke.
  • Heat stroke is a serious medical emergency and can be fatal. Heat exhaustion usually precedes heat stroke. Know the symptoms:
    • Body temperature over 103° F.
    • Red, hot, dry skin – the inability to sweat
    • Rapid, strong pulse
    • Fast breathing
    • Severe nausea
    • Confusion, altered mental state
    • Loss of consciousness
    • Seizure
  • If you see someone exhibiting these symptoms, contact emergency services and move them to a cooler area immediately.  
Breaking News, Local, Weather

UPDATED: Get ready to roast, historic heatwave ahead for Pacific Northwest

Update: The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Watch from Friday afternoon through Monday afternoon for temperatures approaching 100 degrees.

[KIRKLAND] – (MTN) Seattle tied the record high on Monday, with SeaTac Airport recording a high of 89 degrees, but if the forecast models hold, 89 may seem like sweater weather compared to what lies ahead. Puget Sound could see a historic heatwave this weekend and into early next week.

A powerful ridge of high pressure is expected to develop and push into our area on Friday, allowing a tongue of brutally hot air from the desert southwest to flow into our region. How hot? Some computer models are forecasting temperatures as high as 110 degrees for Seattle on Monday! Relax, those models are outliers, but the use of the word “historic” to describe what could be coming isn’t hyperbole.

The Pacific Northwest is notoriously tricky to forecast because a weather system moving 50 or 100 miles off the predicted path can dramatically impact accuracy. The location of the ridge, how effective it is on blocking any offshore flow, and the strength of the ridge has forecast models indicating a 25 degree spread for this weekend. It is like looking at snowstorm weather models forecasting 2″ of snow to 14″ of snow and trying to decide which one is right.

Stop stalling, or I’ll stop reading!

So far, this is what I think we are looking at, but my confidence isn’t high enough to say, “this is the forecast.”

The ridge will arrive on Friday, and the marine layer that pushed in a little bit today, and will push in hard tomorrow, will be on its way out. Friday looks like a near copy of Monday, with highs from 86 to 90 in the Kirkland-Bellevue-Woodinville area.

Friday night won’t offer much relief, and temperatures will be from 62 to 65 under clear and windless skies. Saturday is when the furnace kicks in.

Saturday could be historically hot. Temperatures in the Kirkland-Bellevue-Woodinville area will be 97 to 101 under clear skies and almost no wind. The record high for Saturday is 93, and I feel confident enough to say this record is at risk. If SeaTac Airport reaches 100 degrees on Saturday, it will be the fourth time in history Seattle has officially reached 100 degrees. Some forecast models are putting the dewpoint in the high 50s, which isn’t southeastern United States sticky, but it will be enough to notice this isn’t exactly our typical dry heat.

Saturday night has the potential to be historically hot. Forecast models are indicating almost no breeze to look forward to and an onshore flow. The only saving grace is it will be clear a night, allowing some of the heat to radiate to space. Lows will be 67 to 71.

Sunday is looking even hotter. The ridge will further entrench offshore, pumping the historically hot air into our region. Highs on Sunday could be 98 to 102. The record high on June 27 is 91 degrees and even if the forecast moderates, that record will almost certainly be broken. Some models show the dew point reaching 60 degrees. Last year during our hottest days we had desert humidity as low as 14%. Dew points will be about 15 degrees higher. It won’t’ feel like Georgia, but it won’t feel like eastern Washington either.

Sunday night looks like a copy of Saturday night. A relentless onshore flow, near windless and clear. Lows will be 67 to 71.

Monday is too far out to predict with confidence, but the models indicate it could be as hot or even hotter than Sunday. If the ridge aligns in the right spot and parks for long enough, there is a real possibility of three 100 degree days in a row for our area with dewpoints near 60, which would be unprecedented.

The ridge looks to move eastward on Tuesday and the onshore flow finally breaks up. Real relief won’t come until Wednesday, June 30. Writing a forecast more than 4 or 5 days out is throwing darts, but if I had to make a prediction, Tuesday could reach 90.

If you think this all sounds horrible, it could be worse. Portland, Oregon could reach 100 on Friday and 110 on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Spokane is looking at a 6-day streak over 100 degrees as a possibility, with highs reaching up to 110 by Monday.

The all-time record high in June is 98 degrees. Historically, Seattle has never seen three 100 degree days in a row, and in my 21 years here, I have never seen a forecast model so supportive of this kind of heatwave. The all-time record high for Seattle is 103, reached on July 29, 2020. That record appears safe, but that will be cold comfort for many.

Last year, forecast models supported several days but not in a row, possibly reaching 100 degrees or higher, but dense forest fire smoke moderated our highs by 4 to 8 degrees keeping us in the mid-90s on the worst days. There is no smoke in the forecast, but the risk of brushfires and wildfires even in the lowlands will dramatically increase as we approach the Fourth of July, even if these high temperatures moderate into the 90s as we get closer to the weekend and our confidence grows in the forecast.

Local, Weather

Forecast models keep getting warmer with no rain ahead

[KIRKLAND] – (MTN) The weather forecast crystal ball can’t see to June 30 yet, but there is a chance that our region could see a 10-day streak of 80 plus degree days with no rain. SeaTac Airport is up to 78 degrees for the first day of summer and the longest day of the year and will likely hit 80 degrees with ease today.

It is far too early to say that a 10-day streak with highs over 80 degrees is a lock, but it appears possible. Wednesday is the one day where 80 might be a tough reach, but the marine air push that models indicated we would get on Tuesday night continues to weaken with each new set of forecast runs. The chance for some spits of drizzle in the early morning hours on Wednesday has metaphorically evaporated.

For Kirkland-Bellevue-Woodinville high temperatures will be 80 to 84 today, and most of our readers are already over 80 degrees.

Monday will see record-breaking heat, with highs of 87 to 91 through our area. The record high at SeaTac Airport is 89 degrees and could fall.

Tuesday will see highs of 78 to 82, and Wednesday 77 to 81. After that, the crystal ball gets a bit hazier, but computer models indicate next Saturday could see temperatures of 90 to 94 degrees. Looking out to June 29, there is no rain in the forecast models, and the only day with a real chance of not reaching 80 is Wednesday.

One trend over the last 20 years has been increasingly warmer nighttime temperatures throughout our region. Forecast models for the end of the coming week indicate lows will be in the 60s, which won’t provide much relief in the overnight hours.

For long-term Seattleites, if you’re thinking that “Juneuary” is starting to disappear and the adage “summer starts on July 5th” is fading away, you would be correct. The last time it rained on the Fourth of July at SeaTac Airport was 2010. The last time Independence Day didn’t get over 70 degrees was in 2016.

If your home doesn’t have air conditioning, you can strategize to beat the heat. Open your windows at night to let the cool air in, and then in the morning, close your windows and blinds to trap that cooler air. If you have a multistory home, you can run a fan to circulate the cooler air from the first floor through the house. In the late afternoon or early evening, when the inside of your house is warmer than the outside temperatures, opening the windows again allows the cool air to flow back in.

This is also a good time to buy fans if you don’t have one, because they will be harder to find in the days to come. Finally, if you haven’t prepared for smoke season, this is the time to buy a heater filter to strap to your box fan and prepare your cleanroom.

Local, Weather

Seattle is getting a Juneuary upgrade with possible record-breaking temperatures ahead

[KIRKLAND] – (MTN) If you’re thinking June has been a wild ride so far with record heat, the coldest day in 9 years, and almost a month of rain in a single day, you would be correct. So far, June 2021 has been provided all of the above and we’re headed back to the furnace with potential record heat ahead.

Currently, the desert southwest is baking in historical heat. Phoenix Arizona reached 116 degrees, Palm Springs, California tied its all-time record high of 123, and Furnace Creek, California reached 128 on Thursday as electrical grids strained to keep up with demand. That area of high pressure is going to drift west and carry with it hot air into Puget Sound. By Sunday our region will be in a classic offshore flow pattern which pumps dry, warm air into the lowlands.

For today, the Kirkland-Bellevue-Woodinville area will be seasonably warm with highs from 71-74 under blue skies. Evening temperatures will drop to 50-54 degrees during the overnight with another glorious day as we get ready to end spring.

Saturday will see highs reaching 73-77 under partly cloudy skies. The evening will be noticeably warmer with lows from 53-56 – perfect sleeping weather.

Sunday will see winds increase to 10 to 15 MPH as that area of high pressure drifts further to the west, and temperatures move into the 80s for the entire area. When the winds die down on Sunday, the heat pump and onshore flow will be on and highs will reach 82 to 86. Lows will be 57 to 60, while humidity will continue to drop.

Monday is the day we’re going to cook and has the potential to break weather records. The computer models we’re looking at indicate temperatures in our area will be 85 to 89, but we have found that many weather models don’t account for the offshore flow enough. Highs at SeaTac Airport, where it matters for the record books, will be 87 to 91. Highs in the Kirkland-Bellevue-Woodinville area will be 88 to 92. The record high at SeaTac Airport for Monday is 89, and that is definitely at risk. A toasty day on what will be the longest day of the year and the first day of summer.

Monday night as the potential to set a record warm “low” temperature. The warmest low at SeaTac Airport is 61, and we wouldn’t bet against that record getting broken. Low temperatures for our area will be 59 to 62.

There is almost no chance of rain in the forecast for as far out as we can see. The eastern flow will continue on Tuesday but the marine air will start to push back in, moderating temperatures. Wednesday looks to be mostly cloudy as the marine air rushes back in to the lowlands. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to say some pockets of very light mist or drizzle are possible on Wednesday in the early morning hours.

Despite the heat that is coming this weekend and early next week, area lakes and rivers, along with Puget Sound continue to be cold. Snowpack was almost historically high and the warm temperatures will increase mountain runoff, making our area rivers cold and fast. Even on a 90 degree day, hypothermia is possible. If you’re planning to visit our area rivers, canoe, kayak, or innertube in safe areas, or at your skill level and wear a flotation device.

Local, Weather

Things could go boom today with a possibility of thunderstorms over the region

[KIRKLAND] – (MTN) The region is inching closer to more summer weather, but we need to get past today with a chance of thunderstorms across the entire state. Thunderstorms won’t be widespread, with some areas only getting mostly cloudy to cloudy skies later today. It is possible for some storms to have pockets of gusty wind and small hail if everything comes together.

A sliver of southeastern Washington including the Pullman area has a marginal threat of severe thunderstorms today. An area of more intense thunderstorms is possible in that region, including northeastern Oregon, a slice of Idaho, and parts of Montana.

The Storm Prediction Center Convective Outlook for Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Today area temperatures will be 66 to 70 degrees in the Kirkland-Bellevue-Woodinville area. Clouds will move in this afternoon with a slight chance of rain showers or thunderstorms between 2 PM and 8 PM. Areas closer to the foothills have a better chance of seeing heavier ran or some small hail for short period of times.

Tonight is sleeping weather with lows from 53 to 56 under cloudy skies. The region will gradually warm up for the rest of the week with high 70s and low 80s on tap for the weekend – a welcome change after the last two weekend washouts.

Local, Weather

Approaching record rainfall for June 13 and it’s still coming down

[SEATTLE] – (MTN) The forecast called for a soggy and humid Sunday and that is exactly what the Puget Sound region is getting today. Rain from the current system moved in around 10 PM last night dropping 1/3 of an inch on the dot from the start of Sunday to about 10 AM. The middle of the day had a few drips before the rain returned around 3 PM. Another half-inch has fallen with more on the way, putting the unofficial total at 0.85 inches.

The weather record for June 13 at SeaTac Airport is 1.03 inches, interestingly set in 2020. The wettest June day ever was June 3, 1905 at the Federal Building downtown when 1.42 inches of rain fell. The wettest day at SeaTac was June 7, 1985, when 1.33 inches of rain fell.

Unofficially, June 2021 is at 2.17 inches, well above the monthly average of 1.57 inches, and creeping closer to top ten territory. Despite the wet start to meteorological summer, the region is still running a serious rainfall deficit.

Temperatures were cooler than the forecast models indicating, only getting to an unofficial high of 64. the humidity was delivered as forecasted, with dew points in the 60s in most of the area.

The weather is considered a contributing factor to a 13-car accident on I-5 at 1:15 AM in downtown Seattle. The initial accident caused a 3-car pile-up in the backup which resulted in the death of an off-duty Seattle police officer who exited his vehicle to render assistance.

Local, Weather

Soggy, steamy, east coast style weekend ahead

[KIRKLAND] – (MTN) The Seattle area had the fourth driest spring in history, and it appears that the region will make up some of that precipitation deficit this weekend. An unusual weather pattern will bring a Pineapple Express to the Pacific Northwest on Sunday. Sunday will feel more like a rainy March day in Orlando versus our usual June gloom.

Two rare events are coming together to turn Seattle from Fifty Shades of Grey to Sixty Shades of Sticky. Pineapple Express weather systems are more associated with wintertime storms carrying tropical moisture on a conveyor belt straight to the Pacific Northwest. These systems bring heavy rains, breezy conditions, and warmer temperatures.

Sunday’s weather models shows a river of moisture extending from Hawaii to the Pacific Northwest

Usually, when we warm up in Seattle, it is from an eastern flow from the Cascades. The air compresses and gets warmer, squeezing out the moisture at the same time. Our hottest days typically have low humidity, so we get a “dry heat” in the lowlands to make it feel more tolerable. These same easterly flows dry out our air, preventing rain from falling.

In more recent years, we have gotten hot days from warm air coming from the southwestern United States, which is happening this weekend.

In reviewing the weather models, there is agreement on when and where but disagreement on how much rain. There is widespread agreement that southwest Washington and the Olympics will get significant rain on Sunday morning and the Cascades later in the day as the system makes landfall. One model predicts widespread record rainfall for Seattle, with the potential for one inch of rain – average rainfall for June is 1.57 inches! 

For the rest of Friday, our area will see a typical Juneuary day of clouds, rain showers, and sun breaks. High temperatures will struggle to reach 58 to 62 in the Kirkland-Bellevue-Woodinville area. The wettest period will be between 2 PM and 4 PM.

Friday night could bring some more light showers into the area, with lows from 52 to 54 degrees.

Saturday is looking pleasant, although partly to mostly cloudy. Highs will be 73 to 78, depending on what time the cloud cover starts to thicken up for the main event. It won’t feel sticky, but you may think to yourself, “this feels warmer than the 70s.”

Saturday night and early Sunday morning, the Pineapple Express arrives. Models are predicting rain will increase from 3 AM to 5 AM. Low temperatures will only drop to around 60 degrees, and dew points will creep into to 60s.

Sunday will see variable amounts of rain. Heavy rain showers will form with a chance for some grumbles of thunder. In the heaviest pockets, there could be minor street flooding and reduced visibility. Temperatures will hover around 70 degrees, while the dew point could reach 67. Your friends and family on the east coast won’t offer any sympathy if you call and complain about it being muggy, but this is a rare event for Puget Sound.

How much rain you will get on Sunday will depend on your location, and weather records will fall if a heavy pocket of rain lingers over the rain gauge at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Some areas may see 1/3 to 1/2 an inch of rain, while localized areas could see an inch or more. 

Looking further out, Monday will get a little drier, but the humidity will linger. Tuesday appears to bring a round of spotty showers and thunderstorms to the area before moving back to a dry summertime pattern.