Editor’s note: This is a live account of Seattle heat wave updates from Tuesday, July 26. It is no longer being updated.
Are you ready for Seattle’s first major heat wave of the summer?
The heat wave is expected to linger over the Pacific Northwest with potential for record-breaking temperatures.
In Seattle, the National Weather Service issued a heat advisory that will be in effect between noon Tuesday and 10 p.m. Friday. The expected high at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, where the city’s official weather is recorded, for Tuesday is above 90 degrees.
While the hottest temperatures are expected Tuesday, the rest of the week is not likely to offer much relief with highs lingering in the 90s.
This week’s heat wave is not expected to be as hot as last year’s scorcher, when temperatures hit 108 degrees, breaking the city’s record. However, the daily record high may still be broken. The previous July 26 high was 92 degrees in 2018.
Throughout Tuesday, we’ll post updates about rising temperatures in Seattle and throughout the Pacific Northwest, how people are coping and resources for those trying to stay cool.
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Temperatures in the Seattle area cooled below 90 degrees just before 8 p.m. Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.
The peak heat for the day, 94 degrees, recorded earlier in the evening, broke the record for July 26, the agency said. The previous record high, 92 degrees, was set in 2018.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport reached 94 degrees Tuesday, breaking the previous daily high temperature record for July 26, the National Weather Service said.
The previous record of 92 degrees was set in 2018, according to the agency.
Officials have opened several cooling centers amid the sweltering heat.
About 800 people across Oregon, Washington and British Columbia died from heat-related conditions last summer as a heat dome settled over the region. The temperature in Seattle hit a record-breaking 108 degrees.
JUST IN: Seattle (SeaTac Airport) has reached 94°F today (so far) breaking the previous daily high temperature record for July 26th of 92°F set in 2018. #wawx
Early Tuesday afternoon, temperatures at Sea-Tac International Airport rose to 91 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. The temperature puts Seattle close to breaking its previous July 26 record of 92 degrees, which was set in 2018.
Temperatures as of 1 PM:
Bellingham: 84
Arlington: 88
Seattle: 88
Bremerton: 90
Tacoma: 88
Olympia: 88
Stay hydrated!
Shelter Information: https://t.co/U7xdBngKQo#WAwx
With excessive heat warnings in effect in Washington and the Pacific Northwest, the medical director of Harborview Medical Center’s Emergency Department cautions that a stretch of heat can turn dangerous quickly.
“We want everybody to be aware, to be on guard, and to make sure you have a plan for how to get out of the heat. Make sure you have a plan for staying hydrated,” said Dr. Steve Mitchell. “If you live by yourself, have people check on you.”
Heat-related illness can arise suddenly, Mitchell said. Initial warning signs include chest pain, trouble breathing, cognition problems and feeling thirsty.
Mitchell said Harborview has anticipated heat-related incidents and is “set up and doing all we can to make sure we are optimally prepared to meet whatever challenge may be coming our way.”
With overnight low temperatures expected to be much higher than our normal night lows, here are some tips to sleep more coolly:
Read the story here.
This kind of heat can kill. With that in mind, the Washington State Department of Transportation issued a warning:
Reminders for this heat wave:
• Dispose of flammable material properly
• Avoid parking on dry grass
• Secure any chains on your vehicle/make sure you aren't dragging them on pavement
• Carry extra water
• Never leave kids and pets inside a hot vehicle pic.twitter.com/qPC7z5zHXi
Air quality is plunging in some parts of the Puget Sound region, especially at the foot of the Cascade Mountains, according to the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. The agency issued an ozone alert, which is tied to the high temperatures, for portions of King and Pierce counties.
Air quality in the Cascade foothills will be UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS in the afternoon this week due to ozone (smog). This is due to extreme temps. Take steps to stay cool and avoid outdoor activities from 1 to 7 PM. AQ should improve by Sunday. https://t.co/wNKa1N7m26 pic.twitter.com/iQu0csuX1M
The dog days of summer have arrived and with the hot weather comes a need to take a few precautions to keep your pets safe. The Seattle Animal Shelter and Seattle Humane Society offer these tips:
Take it easy. Avoid overexerting animals in hot weather. Obesity, old age, underlying disease and previous bouts of heat stroke can predispose an animal to the condition.
Provide clean, cool water. Change out the water in pet dishes to ensure it is cool. If your dog uses a water tower or large dish, consider adding a few ice chips. In addition to water, some birds may benefit from fruits and vegetables with high moisture content.
More tips here.
Signs of heat exhaustion include feeling faint or dizzy, excessive sweating, cool and clammy skin, nausea, a rapid weak pulse and muscle cramps. The department recommends treating heat exhaustion by moving to a cooler, air-conditioned place, drinking water and taking a cold shower or using a cold compress.
If untreated, heat exhaustion can develop into heatstroke. Officials recommend seeking immediate medical attention by calling 911, moving to a cooler place and use cool cloths or a bath to cool down. Symptoms include a body temperature above 103 degrees, throbbing headache, confusion, lack of sweating, hot dry skin, nausea or vomiting, a rapid strong pulse and a loss of consciousness.
Read the story here.
With a predicted high of 94 degrees at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, it now appears likely that the earlier record for July 26 of 92 degrees in 2018 will be broken.
🔥RECORD-BREAKING HEAT TODAY
Temperatures will soar into the mid-90s this afternoon, with Seattle very likely to set a new record high for July 26 of 95 degrees. Old mark is 92, set just 4 years ago.
King County’s Regional Homelessness Authority is opening indoor daytime cooling spaces in addition to the daytime and overnight shelters that are usually open.
Since taking over extreme weather planning for Seattle and King County at the beginning of the year, the King County Regional Homelessness Authority said that the opening of additional cooling centers is triggered when the National Weather Service issues an excessive heat advisory, which normally happens within 12 hours of temperatures hitting above 90 degrees.
The authority announced Monday that the centers will be open Tuesday through Thursday in Seattle and through Friday in the rest of King County.
In anticipation of higher temperatures, last week the Regional Homelessness Authority made funding up to $2,000 available to homeless service providers who requested it to help them buy survival supplies for distribution. REACH, a homelessness services outreach provider, used those funds to purchase cooling towels, spray fans, water bottles, drink mixes, salty snacks and bandannas that it plans to distribute around Seattle.
Last year, during the final week or June, several people who were presumed to be homeless were confirmed or suspected to have died from heat exposure when temperatures topped out in the low 100s. Few residents are as vulnerable to the effects of the heat as King County residents who are poor, thousands of whom live outside.
Read the story here.
The White House on Tuesday announced the launch of Heat.gov, a federal website to spread awareness and resources so the public and policymakers can better respond to extreme heat.
The announcement comes just as Seattle enters a heat wave Tuesday.
The website will have heat forecasts from numerous federal agencies, guides to plan and prepare for high temperatures, and opportunities to support public health programs and communities at higher risk of heat exposure.
Heat.gov was created through a collaboration among federal agencies including the National Integrated Heat Health Information System, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Environmental Protection Agency and others.
Read the story here.
Even with triple-digit heat possible in some parts of Western Washington the rest of this week, it will be down in the 60s along coastal beaches and in the 80s in the interior of the coast, according to the National Weather Service of Seattle.
Unlike most heat waves — which feature dry, hot wind from the east — this one will be accompanied by cooling winds from the Pacific Ocean.
It does not look, though, like the cooling breezes will make it into Seattle or the interior of the Puget Sound region, where temperatures this week are expected to reach 90 or a little higher, according to meteorologist Jeff Michalski.
Seattle and the region are expected to see four days in a row of temperatures in the 90s, with higher temperatures expected in the South Sound, the interior and the Cascade foothills. In some places along the Cowlitz River Valley, temperatures could reach triple digits, he said.
And while the onshore breeze won’t bring obvious relief to Seattle, we would be looking at much higher temperatures were it not there, Michalski said.
Read the story here.
Once it starts warming up today, it’s not going to cool down until close to 10 p.m., when temperatures in the Puget Sound region will finally drop below 80 degrees, according to the National Weather Service of Seattle. Here’s the latest forecast.
It's 830pm and temps across the Puget Sound region are around 80°F (plus or minus a few depending on your proximity to water). This time TOMORROW it's likely to be in the mid to upper 80s at this same time. Outdoor temperatures likely won't fall to below 80 until closer to 10pm.
With Seattle-area temperatures expected to rise into the 90s multiple days this week, local city and county officials are offering public cooling spaces. And you can always head to a library or spray park.
This list covers options for cool places throughout the Puget Sound area.
The Seattle area faces the potential for record temperatures today, according to the National Weather Service. The previous July 26 high was 92 degrees, reached in 2018. Here’s a guide to getting ready and taking precautions to keep yourself and your family healthy.
Heat alerts blanket the Pacific Northwest, including much of Oregon and Washington state — and one Washington city could hit 113 degrees in the days ahead before a relative cool-down into the lower 100s. Here’s a look at the two factors driving this fledgling heat wave.