The weekend heat wave marked the hottest June 8 in the Seattle area in almost 80 years.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport recorded a high of 90 degrees around 5 p.m., according to the National Weather Service, surpassing forecasts that predicted a likely high of 82.
It overtook the previous heat record of 87 degrees, set in 1948.
The region tied that record on June 8, 2015, with another 87-degree day, but this was likely the first time the heat exceeded that threshold, meteorologist Samantha Borth said Sunday evening.
While other areas in the Puget Sound region didn’t reach historic temperatures, Bellingham tied its record of 82 degrees set in 1955, Borth said.
The heat wave is going to continue for another day, with a heat advisory still in place until Monday evening at 10 p.m. The National Weather Service expects highs to be in the mid- to upper 80s Monday.
Temperatures will stay warm but chill out a bit later in the week, as a ridge of high pressure moves out of the area, Borth continued. Tuesday will cool down by a couple of degrees and Wednesday will dip into the 70s.
That’s a normal length of time for these types of heat waves to last, Borth said, adding that high temperatures would have to stick around for five or six days for it to be considered unusual.
Even though the air temperatures are hot, the region’s bodies of waters are still cold, with Puget Sound settling in around 50 degrees, Borth continued. The National Weather Service cautioned the frigid water can be dangerous.
