***For information on cooling shelters, dial 2-1-1 or visit wa211.org.***
No FastCast tonight...continue reading below for the latest update on the ongoing significant heat wave across the Northwest.
Please remember to hydrate, stay out of the sun in the afternoon, and check up on the most vulnerable (children, the elderly, and pregnant mothers). Additionally, even though it is very hot, water temperatures are still in the 50s. Be very mindful of sun exposure, water temperatures, and the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Finally, remember to NEVER keep children or pets in your car. After 30 minutes in 90° conditions, it is nearly 120° in your car. In the case of any suspected emergency, it is always best to call 9-1-1.
-------------------------------------------------------------After multiple hot days across the region, the hottest days of the heat wave are expected in the first half of this week. Let's take a look at the forecast.
We'll start with highs on Monday, from the high-resolution NWS NBM model.
On Monday, expect highs from Seattle north to reach the low 80s near the water to upper 80s inland. From Seattle southward, temperatures will likely reach the low to mid 90s, with temperatures from Olympia to Kelso in the upper 90s. The coast will reach the upper 60s to upper 70s (only in the mid 60s on the beaches). The Willamette Valley and areas from Longview to Vancouver (WA) will reach the low 100s, with isolated readings in the mid 100s. Eastern Washington will reach the upper 90s to mid 100s, with isolated readings in the upper 100s.
Lows on Tuesday morning will be very warm for this area, as seen below in the NWS NBM forecast.
This forecast shows Tuesday morning's lows likely reaching the low to mid 60s across Western Washington, with dense urban areas possibly remaining in the upper 60s. The coast and Whidbey Island will drop to the mid to upper 50s. The Willamette Valley and SW WA will reach the mid to upper 60s, while Eastern Washington remains quite warm, in the mid 60s to mid 70s.
For Western Washington (except the coast), Tuesday will be the hottest day of this heat wave. The NWS NBM forecast is below.
Tuesday will be very hot for non-coastal areas in the Northwest. In the lowlands north of Seattle, highs will reach the low 80s to low 90s, hottest inland. Isolated readings in the mid 90s are possible. From Seattle southward, temperatures will reach the mid to upper 90s, with a slight chance for readings in the low 100s. The Willamette Valley will likely reach the low to mid 100s. Eastern Washington will be extremely hot, with highs in the mid 100s to mid 110s, hottest around the Tri-Cities. On the coast, in the San Juans, and on Whidbey Island, highs will reach the mid 70s to low 80s (except the mid 60s on the ocean beaches).
However, for some areas, relief will be on the way! Below is the forecast for Wednesday morning's lows.
Early Wednesday morning, as marine air moves in, coastal areas (including the Strait and San Juans) will drop to the low to mid 50s. Areas from Olympia to Longview along I-5 will drop to the mid 50s as well. The Willamette Valley and the lowlands from Olympia northward will remain in the low to mid 60s. Eastern Washington, however, will have no relief, with lows getting warmer, remaining in the upper 60s to mid 70s, with isolated lows in the upper 70s.
On Wednesday, heat will back off to some degree west of the Cascades, while remaining quite intense to the east. Below is the NWS NBM forecast for Wednesday's highs.
On Wednesday, expect lowland highs in the mid to upper 80s, except in the upper 70s to low 80s from Everett northward. The Willamette Valley will reach the low 90s, while the cooling will be evident on the coast, with highs only in the mid 60s to low 70s. Eastern Washington will remain dangerously hot, with highs in the low 100s to low 110s, hottest again around the Tri-Cities.
Slightly more cooling is likely on Thursday, before temperatures rebound slightly on Friday and into the weekend. Temperatures look to cool somewhat by the middle of next week, while still remaining above average.
In addition to heat, fire danger is quite high across the region. Multiple fires required large responses, including air attack, in both Western and Eastern Washington on Sunday. These fires were mainly small brush fires, which had the potential to spread significantly. Relative humidity dropped to 10-20% across most of Washington and Oregon on Sunday, with similar conditions possible on Monday and beyond. Below is the European model forecast for humidity on Monday afternoon.
Expect quite low humidity for most non-coastal areas west of the Cascades on Monday, with values reaching 15-30% roughly from Everett south through the Willamette Valley. Eastern Washington and Oregon will be incredibly dry, with values of 5-15% likely, allowing fires to spread very rapidly on both sides of the mountains. In the Cascades themselves, humidity will likely reach 20-30%.
Finally, with advancing cooler marine air on Wednesday evening will come increased winds across the state, allowing any existing fires to spread, since air will still be dry and no rain will accompany these winds. Below is the European model forecast for peak winds by Wednesday night.
This forecast shows 20-30 mph gusts for most of the Northwest, with a typical summer westerly surge down the Strait, bringing 35-45 mph gusts, strongest over the open water. The areas to watch will be downwind of terrain gaps in Eastern Washington. The Kittitas Valley, Columbia Gorge, and area near Lake Chelan will have gusts of 35-45 mph, allowing rapid fire spread, and potentially extreme fire behavior on any established fires (including the 9,000 acre Pioneer Fire on north Lake Chelan).
Stay safe and vigilant as this heat wave continues!
It's definitely shorts weather!
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