Anyone remember the cool and wet weather we were seeing just last month?
No? OK …
Record-setting heat will continue across Western Washington this week.
Seattle’s record for consecutive 80-degree days in May is four, “and it sure looks like we’re going to break that record” this week, said National Weather Service meteorologist Dana Felton.
On Monday, the city tied it up, setting a record daily high for the fourth day in a row, the weather service said.
The high temperature topped out at 88 degrees around 3 p.m., beating the previous May 15 record of 85 degrees set in 2007.
Seattle’s highs on Friday (82), Saturday (86) and Sunday (89) all beat previous records set at the weather station at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Farther south, toward Olympia and the Oregon border, temperatures Sunday exceeded the Seattle metro area’s highs.
Overnight Sunday into Monday, temperatures in most areas across Western Washington didn’t dip much below 70 degrees — a recipe for restless sleep and a warm launching point for temperatures Monday.
Seattle’s Monday morning low of 63 degrees — only 3 degrees below the normal high for May 15 of 66 degrees — tied for the warmest low temperature in May on record, according to the weather service.
Areas along the coast, including Hoquiam and Quillayute, both of which broke all-time heat records Sunday, were noticeably cooler Monday, while the interior lowlands continued to endure temperatures in the 80s and 90s.
A heat advisory was in effect until 8 p.m. Monday for portions of Western, northwest and west-central Washington.
Clouds formed over the Cascades on Monday evening thanks to a pool of cooler air slowly drifting closer from Oregon, the weather service said.
Those clouds set the stage for thunderstorms across the region as the area of high pressure anchored over much of Western Washington collided with the colder system moving over the northern portion of Oregon, creating an unstable atmosphere.
It is “very unusual to have that kind of feature here when it’s this hot,” Felton said.
A flood watch was issued for much of Western Washington from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday.
With easterly winds over the Cascades, thunderstorms were expected to “float down into the lowlands and possibly get into Seattle” by the evening, Felton said.
Isolated thunderstorms, accompanied by brief heavy downpours, lightning, hail and gusty winds, were expected to roll over the Cascades and bubble up over the Puget Sound lowlands through midweek.
By Tuesday, the cool marine air will blow farther inland, knocking temperatures down a few notches, “but we’re still going for a high of 81, which is way above normal for this time of year,” Felton said.
Highs across the Puget Sound area will hover around the mid- to low 80s for much of the workweek, cooling 5 to 10 degrees from Monday’s highs and eventually dipping into the 70s by the weekend.
As high temperatures continue to make a run at 90 degrees, the weather service warns of increasing risk of heat-related illnesses, especially for those sensitive to heat or who don’t have access to effective cooling and hydration.
Seattleites were advised to consume plenty of fluids and reschedule strenuous activities. People should also wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothes.
Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is a 911 emergency, according to the heat advisory.
People should also be aware that, despite warmer air temperatures, waterways may remain cold across the region.
Snowmelt keeps the temperatures of most rivers and lakes in the upper 40s to low 50s this time of year. Puget Sound’s temperature is in the mid-40s, making cold-water shock a real concern for swimmers of all abilities.
The weather service advises using caution during water activities to avoid hypothermia and water-related injuries. Cold water can drain body heat up to four times faster than cold air, the weather service said.
For sheltering information and other human services in your area, dial 211 during business hours or go to wa211.org.
The King County Regional Homelessness Authority has activated its severe weather response protocol through Monday. Cooling and day centers will be open across the county, and King County Metro drivers have been directed to provide rides to customers seeking relief from the heat, including people who would like rides to cooling centers.
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