This year, King County set records on Sunday, July 31 for the most consecutive days of high temperatures in recorded state history, but now the weather is back in the mid-70s for what most residents see like typical summer weather.
KIRO Newsradio meteorologist Ted Buehner gave a weekly forecast that comes as a big relief to Seattleites after a heat wave in one of the least air-conditioned parts of the country.
“Today [Aug. 1,] the coast and northern inland coasts will be in the 60s and 70s. More cooler Pacific air is on the way for the rest of the week, offering morning clouds to afternoon clearness with more seasonable highs in the 70s.” Va Buehner said.
Last light of July 2022 on Mount Rainier. Seattle high of 95° record day (94°/2015) and 6th consecutive day of 90°+ highs in Seattle breaking the old record of 5 (7/1-5/2015 and 8/7-11) /1981) and the 5th time Seattle has had 3 straight 95°+ days, tying the record. #wawx pic.twitter.com/odkwGNjLnv
— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) August 1, 2022
That’s not to say there isn’t a different form of air conditioning in the Pacific Northwest.
Cooler water from the Pacific Ocean cools the air before the ocean breeze blows it inland creating what Buehner calls “nature’s air conditioning.” This air conditioning was interrupted by the “heat dome” of hot trapped air from high pressure systems over the Aleutian Islands in Alaska and Husdon Bay in Canada, preventing cool ocean air from moving inland.
We may see a return to normal this week, with slightly cooler temperatures along the coast and more comfortable temperatures in King and Pierce counties.
“Temperatures along the Interstate 5 corridor will be 10 to 20 degrees cooler today than the Seattle area’s record six straight days of 90+ degrees. Highs along the coast and northern interior coasts will be in the 60s and 70s”. Buehner said.
The heat wave broke the record for the longest consecutive stretch of highs over 90 degrees
All after a week of record-breaking heat in Seattle; the temperature soared to 91 degrees Fahrenheit in the early afternoon on Sunday, July 31, the record sixth consecutive day in which the temperature exceeded 90 degrees.
The National Weather Service issued a excessive heat warning for the Portland and Seattle regions that ended yesterday.
