Although the term heatwave has recently become a word that evokes fear and anxiety, a brief, moderate heat wave can be very comforting.
Some time for swimming, iced drinks and hanging out at a local park.
This week, we will enjoy a warm welcome. In a practical sense, we’re about to cross a meteorological rubicon from cool/wet spring to mild/dry summer.
Here is the National Weather Service’s latest forecast for Seattle. We have a relatively dull day ahead (Wednesday), with a high of 65F. Thursday is the delivery day. Friday will be in the mid 70s and Saturday through Monday will take the highs and lows into the mid 80s.
And after our “heatwave”, there will be day after day in the 70s.
The warm period will be associated with the development of a moderately upper ridge along the West Coast, as illustrated by the map at the upper level (pressure level 500 hPa, approximately 18,000 ft) at 2 Sunday morning hours (see below).
Surface map at 5 p.m. Saturday, during the first day of warm, high-pressure inland, easterly (outward) currents, a low-pressure trough extending from California toward north to west Washington. Classic warm look (solid lines are sea level pressure and near-surface temperatures shown in color).
This heatwave will be quite typical for this time of year and won’t have much in common with the major heatwave in late June 2021.
The latest extensive forecasts show a profound change in weather.
Temperatures for the next 30 days are predicted to be near-normal (see below)
While rainfall over the next 30 days is forecast to be below normal for most areas.
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Notification
I will give a talk on Northwest Weather and sign copies of my updated book (Pacific Northwest Weather) at Northgate (Seattle) Barnes and Noble at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 25.
