It hasn’t rained since June during this summer dominated by sunshine and warmth, so obviously Mother Nature feels like throwing in a twist.
Ready for the heat? It looks like a four-day heat wave (at least by Washington standards) is quickly approaching.
The National Weather Service (NWS) this morning upgraded an excessive heat watch to an Excessive Heat Warning, meaning the heat has gone from being a possibility to a reality.
The warming starts Tuesday afternoon, August 1st and runs through Friday evening, August 4th. Wednesday and Thursday could bring widespread record highs across the Puget Sound region, with Thursday being the hottest day.
How hot? Well, maybe not quite as hot as late July 2009 when spots in North Bend crossed 110 degrees, but close. Currently low 100’s are the predicted high temps in the Snoqualmie Valley on Thursday.
What may leave you feeling uncomfortable is the length of this hot stretch. Temperatures should start creeping toward 90 degrees Tuesday, reach a peak of low 100’s on Thursday and then hover in the 90’s through Saturday.
Overnight low temperatures aren’t predicted to dip below 60 degrees until Saturday night, making it more difficult to cool off homes that don’t have air conditioning or basements.
The National Weather Service says this prolonged period of “unusually hot weather can create a dangerous situation in which heat illnesses are possible.” NWS advises drinking plenty of fluids, staying out of the sun and checking on relatives and neighbors.
So enjoy this sunny Monday, which should be around 84 degrees and the coolest day we’ll see for a while in the Valley.
AND – if you’re heading to our rivers or lakes, be safe and remember that these local waterways are still cold and running strong in many areas – so use caution.
Both North Bend and Snoqualmie typically offer public cooling areas during heat waves – like libraries, the Snoqualmie Valley YMCA and the North Bend Senior Center. We’ll update this article later if/when those cooling spots are announced.
7-day Weather Forecast for Snoqualmie
Comments
Meanwhile, the trees (and grass) along the Parkway are almost dead due to lack of water. When will our city start watering those trees? After they are dead? This coming heatwave will only make it worse. RIP more trees in this “Tree City USA” city.
Snoqualmie Valley Hospital’s main lobby is open until 8:00 pm every day to the public to cool off. The emergency department and emergency department lobby is open at all times.
Relax Mike, things will be ok. It’s bound to rain again at some point
And will the city replace the dead trees? History says no, they won’t. They just remove more trees from the side of the Parkway. The rain isn’t the issue. It’s the city’s decision not to water the landscape that is the issue. We all know that July-Sept is historically a low rain period, and that’s when we need the irrigation turned on. Our city leaders seem to keep missing that obvious point.
Hi Mike – I saw the Public Works Director at the council meeting last night and asked about the brown side medians along the Parkway. Apparently the city has been doing upgrades to the 20-year old water treatment plant this summer, which has required limited watering over the past couple of months. He said they are now watering again (upgrade work done) and they expect the dormant grass to come back. He also said the trees will survive, although some apparently are struggling due to poor soil conditions. Hope this helps.
Our city spends a lot of money on ornamental trees on the Parkway and elsewhere AND THEN DOES NOT WATER THEM. I am a little bit tired of seeing trees we have all paid for dying of neglect during the hot summer months. New trees need extra care while they get establish. City of Snoqualmie – please water the young trees you can clearly see are in distress.
Most of the dying trees you’re noticing are white birches, overplanted by the developer and now being hit hard by the bronze birch borer. Monocultures are by definition doomed to fail , and token remedial interventions are pointless.
In the end, the trees will be ok. We sure are getting worked up here