A heat wave is rippling through Washington, with temperatures in the western part of the state expected to peak in the high 80s to lower 90s this weekend.
“July tends to be our hottest month,” said Allen Kam of the National Weather Service in Seattle.
Temperatures in the 90s are normal for Western Washington in July, but a high of 94 degrees at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport set a July 1 record. That reading beat the record of 89 degrees set last year, according to the Weather Service.
The heat is predicted to continue into early next week. The Weather Service predicts that the heat Monday might break another record at Sea-Tac airport.
By the end of next week, cool marine air is expected to sweep in, possibly lowering temperatures by as much as 25 degrees.
While the air might be sweltering, Puget Sound water temperatures are in the mid-50s and rivers, too, can be dangerously cold for swimmers.
Not many households in the Northwest have air conditioners, so how to survive the stifling heat? Drink lots of fluids and be careful when participating in energetic activities. The people most susceptible to problems from heat are the elderly and very young children.
The hot weather coincides with a busy weekend of events, including the annual Arlington Fly-In. It might also be a good time to visit Jetty Island or the new spray park in Marysville.
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