Scorching temperatures this weekend could break records by Sunday, with the hot weather set to continue into next week.
“Summer is definitely here,” said Steve Reedy, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Seattle office, as he looked at the weather forecast for the next few days: hot, hotter, super hot, hot.
The National Weather Service has issued a heat watch for western Washington from Friday through early next week, with the highest temperatures predicted along the Interstate 5 corridor.
That’s because air currents from the east are carrying scorching heat from across the mountains into our neighborhood, and while this heat may not last long enough to officially be called a heat dome, it will make for some cooking.
High pressure will continue to develop through early next week. Combined with an offshore current bringing easterly winds, temperatures will rise each day with highs in the 87-90 degree range. Sunday and Monday will be the warmest, with muggy highs of 92-95 degrees and humidity in the 20-30 percent range.
Temperatures won’t start to drop until Tuesday as westerly winds start to blow through the area again, but the winds aren’t as strong so temperatures will gradually drop and range from 87 to 91 degrees, which is still very hot for us. They probably won’t drop into the low 80s until Thursday, Reedy said.
It’s a good time to hit the mountains, go to the movies, go to the library, hang out at the grocery store, go for a swim, or enjoy a museum. Pack a picnic and enjoy the breeze and the gorgeous mountain and Puget Sound views. Visit the Olympic Sculpture Park and explore the small beach.
But when it’s this hot, never leave pets or children in the car for even a minute, check on older friends, and make sure everyone stays hydrated.
But this isn’t really anything to complain about – the real problems will come in Portland and the surrounding areas. 3 digits Similar conditions continued in central and eastern Washington for several days.
The Meteorological Agency on Thursday Emergency heat wave warning Dangerously hot conditions are expected to continue through today and into next week, with little relief expected overnight.
Meanwhile, cherry harvest is in full swing, and workers and growers will once again be faced with extreme heat that can be dangerous for workers and can soften the cherries, potentially damaging them to the point that they can’t even be picked.
This is becoming almost a regular occurrence. Last summer, cherry farmers lost $100 million in losses that meant they could apply for federal disaster assistance. About half of the crop was lost to extreme weather. The problem was a sudden heat wave and an oversupply of cherries on the market, causing prices to fall.
Then came the heatwaves of 2021. Over a week of record-breaking heat, with temperatures reaching up to 115 degrees, prompted growers to hand out headlamps to workers and have them work the harvest in the middle of the night.
The state Department of Labor and Industry approved temporary emergency heat protection rules for workers in 2021 and 2022, and a permanent rule took effect in July 2023 requiring employers to provide shade and cool breaks and monitor workers for signs of danger from excessive heat.
The Washington rule served as the model for federal rules proposed by the Biden administration on July 2. The first Federal Thermal Safety Standard And it’s a long-standing priority for farmworker advocacy groups.
Heat brings death. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics: Between 2011 and 2022, 479 workers died in the United States from exposure to ambient heat, averaging 40 deaths per year. There have also been tens of thousands of documented work-related injuries and illnesses from heatstroke and heat exhaustion, which is probably a gross underestimate.
Material from The Seattle Times archives was used in this article.
