I was worried that this might happen…..
Strong easterly winds (from the east) developed yesterday and this morning.
As they descended on the western slopes of the Cascades, the air warmed and dried again.
As a result, pre-existing fires flared (e.g., Bolt Creek Fire near Skykomish, Suiattle Fire near Arlington) and a number of powerful new fires were started (Loch Katrine Fire east of Duvall and the Nakia Creek fire northeast of Vancouver, WA).
The latest visible satellite imagery shows these fires (red arrows for Nakia Creek and blue arrows for Loch Katrine fires).
Since winds are from the southeast, most of Seattle and Tacoma are being contained with severe smoke from these growing fires (see surface smoke distribution at 1 p.m., green is low smoke)
Oddly enough, some of yesterday’s smogiest places are today’s best (east of Seattle). Not so good in Everett and NW Washington.
Temperature is another story. Where the warm, dry, settled air above mixes with the surface, the temperature becomes monstrously hot.
At 1 p.m., several locations in our area (mostly just west of the Cascades) are in the 80s, with some locations IN THE 80S. (map at 1pm below) A few “lucky” places will hit 90 this afternoon.
Want cooler temperatures? Go east to Washington!
Some daily high temperature records (for the day) will be deleted today.
Really special.
Fortunately, the winter winds will weaken this afternoon and tonight cool sea air will hit western Washington and Oregon. If the warm winds of winter continue, the fires will rapidly push west.
