Endless Summer for Pacific Northwest Region with Potential Record-High Temperatures

For a few more days, the Pacific Northwest region will continue to experience the toasty endless summer with potential record-high temperatures.

In the Pacific Northwest, summer has blown past the autumnal equinox and is still baking the area with a few more days of potential record-high temperatures and no rain even as the calendar flips to mid-October.

This weekend, temperatures are expected to rise once more, combining with a hot and dry offshore wind to produce dangerous fire weather conditions and send fresh wildfire smoke into the Seattle region, breaking more heat records in the process.

The Washington and Oregon Cascades are under several fire weather warnings because gusty and dry easterly winds will reduce humidity to just 20%, making it easy for fires to spread across the dry terrain. Since the beginning of July, most of the area has received no more than half an inch of rain.

Smoky Skies

Due to the dry weather, wildfires have been burning for months in eastern and central Washington. Frequent easterly winds have brought smoke into the Western Washington region and Seattle, and a new wave of dense smoke will move into the metro area during the weekend, worsening the already somewhat smoky air quality.

Jane Minar, a meteorologist from FOX Weather, said that as the heat begins to accumulate and the temperature rises, more pollutants are trapped at the surface. Burning eyes, a scratchy throat, and a runny nose are all indications that the air quality is irritating the body.

A large portion of Western Washington, including the Seattle metropolitan area, has air quality alerts posted, and unhealthy conditions are predicted to persist through the weekend and into Monday. Officials warn that even healthy people may experience smoke-related health problems and advise anyone with health conditions to avoid any unnecessary outdoor exposure.

Toasty in Seattle

With temperatures expected to soar past 75 degrees throughout both weekend days, Seattle has already experienced six days in October with temperatures above 75 degrees, breaking the previous high of five days set in 1991.

The predicted high temperature for any date on or after October 15 would be 79 degrees on Saturday. The previous record is at 77 degrees, set in 1991. On October 14, 1961, a temperature of 80 degrees was recorded for the latest time ever.

 Since August 10, Seattle has not experienced a day that was over 2 degrees below average. As anticipated, Seattle will easily break the previous record for the hottest first two weeks of October, surpassing it by more than a full degree.

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Baking in Portland

In Portland, where the mercury has already topped 85 degrees four times in October, the heat has been even worse; as a consolation, Thursday's close call of 84 degrees set a daily record.

With possibly at least four more days with temperatures in the 80s range on the horizon this weekend and the coming week, the nine days in the 80s range have already broken the October record of six days.

Portland is also about to break its record for the hottest 1st half of October in terms of the average high temperature, and it may do so by a full 3 degrees, putting the average at 80 degrees for a high during that time for the first time.

With only 0.48 inches of precipitation since July 1, Portland will have experienced the driest spell during that time, almost matching Seattle.

Incoming Rains

Though most of next week is anticipated to be dry and warm, there are finally indications of a shift in the long-term forecasts.

The omega block appears to disintegrate at the end of the following week, allowing the Northwest to experience a more typical late-October rainy pattern and, if it holds, bringing the area's first significant downpour in months.

According to NOAA's 8 to 14-day outlook, there is a high likelihood that a wetter-than-normal pattern will develop along the West Coast by the end of the week and continue through the weekend, FOX Weather reports.

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