August 14, 2023

August Heatwave Update

Last updated 11:50 PM, Monday, August 14th, 2023 

By Joseph Renalds

Happy Monday Huskies!

Well the heatwave did not disappoint today. SeaTac Airport reached a toasty 94 degrees this afternoon after starting out with an overnight low of 71 degrees. If this low temperature is verified, it would only be the third time a low above 70 degrees has been recorded in Seattle.

Almanac data from NOAA Regional Climate Centers

Here’s a look at some of the high temperatures recorded around western Washington today. The eastside of Washington state was sizzling in the triple digits, but so was Forks/Quillayute on the Olympic Peninsula, which hit 100 degrees. This shattered the daily high temperature record of 96 degrees set in 2010 at Quillayute. The recording station did go offline after this reading so we will have to wait to hear if this was an accurate reading for the site.

Even now that the sun has gone down, it will be uncomfortable for those who do not have air conditioning. Similar to last night, low temperatures will struggle to get below or not even get below 70 degrees. 

Tomorrow will be hot again with temperatures getting back into the low 90s and Wednesday will not look that different.

Fire danger is also elevated right now as we get dry north winds and hot conditions in the mountains. A Red Flag Warning is in effect for the west slopes of the North and Central Cascades until 10PM on Tuesday. The winds have also blown smoke from the Sourdough Fire burning near Diablo Lake in Whatcom County into the lowlands causing brief degradation of air quality. With a pattern shift still a few days away, don’t be surprised if you smell smoke outside again before the end of the week.

The real break in our heatwave begins on Thursday when the axis of the thermal trough moves inland, allowing for a return of onshore flow (natural A/C). Temperatures will still be in the upper 80s before they take a tumble into the upper 70s on Friday. So don’t worry, relief is in sight. 

Reach forecaster Joseph Renalds at theuwdawgcast@uw.edu, on Twitter @TheUWDawgcast, or on Instagram @uwdawgcast.