From Bellingham to Hoquiam, temps hit record highs this weekend

Yes, it’s true. St. Patrick’s Day weekend broke temperature records throughout Western Washington.

But you could feel all that.

Blue skies, sunshine, hanging out, taking it easy. Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with Fourth of July temperatures.

In Seattle, Olympia and Bellingham, high temperatures beat records on Saturday and Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

All of Western Washington saw temperatures break records on Saturday. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport reached 74 degrees. The previous record was 72 in 1947.

On Sunday, the temperature at the airport matched the record high, also set in 1947, of 71 degrees.

Sunday’s temperatures were slightly cooler, but still high enough to beat previous highs set at the weather service’s Seattle headquarters in 1947, the Olympia Regional Airport in 1978 and Bellingham International Airport in 2019.

This weekend’s warmth was caused by a strong high-pressure ridge and warm easterly winds kicking up in Western Washington, said National Weather Service meteorologist Steve Reedy.

The summerlike weather came about a month ahead of schedule. The average first 70 degree day is April 15, and 70 degree days before April have occurred in just 15 of the past 78 years, according to the weather service.

But this is still March in Seattle. And while Monday might see temperatures in the mid- to upper-60s in the Seattle metro area, rain is coming back.

“By midweek, we’ll be right back to normal temperatures in the mid-50s,” Reedy said. “Monday or Tuesday the high temperatures will be more in the mid-60s. Then Wednesday and beyond we’ll have a frontal system bringing in a return to rainfall and temperatures around 53 or 54.”

While the air may be warm, Reedy said, the water is not. Lakes and creeks in Western Washington have water temperatures in the upper 40s, making it a dangerous option for people looking to escape the heat. According to the weather service, it can take an experienced swimmer 10 minutes to lose muscle control in cold waters.