Heat wave could break record
Seattle is in for an unusually long and oppressive heat wave this week, with peak temperatures on Wednesday that could break Seattle's all-time record of 100 degrees.
By Lindsay Toler
Seattle Times staff reporter
THE SEATTLE TIMES
A group of friends jump into Angie Lake in Seatac Monday to cool off from the unusually warm temperatures. The friends, l - r, Angelina Pilipchuk, 11 (yellow suit); Cheyanne Fredrickson, 10; Sierra Conner, 12; Francheska Jack, 14; Andreta Martin, 11; and Teresa Studer, 7 (with tube).
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Five-day forecast
Seattle is in for an unusually long and oppressive heat wave this week, with peak temperatures on Wednesday that could break Seattle's all-time record of 100 degrees.
"In short, we are about to enter an historic heat wave for our region," Clifford Mass, a University of Washington atmospheric sciences professor, wrote on his blog. "One day, your grandchildren will ask you... did you really experience the temperatures of July 29th, 2009?"
The National Weather Service is forecasting a high temperature of 99 degrees for Wednesday, beating the 95 degree record for the day and just one degree away from Seattle's overall record. The UW is forecasting triple-digit temperatures.
Temperatures reached 94 degrees Monday, according to the weather service, and are expected to break 90 degrees until Friday.
Multiday heat waves are rare in Seattle, where marine air usually moves in and dramatically cools things off, according to the weather service. The last five-day stretch was in 1981.
Giant pockets of low pressure air are anchored over Hudson Bay and western California, keeping stagnant, hot air stationed over Western Washington.
"There's no end in sight right now," said Johnny Burg.
Temperatures are expected to stay in the eighties until next Monday.
Lindsay Toler: 206-464-2463 or ltoler@seattletimes.com |
