WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Heat alert upgraded – and shortened

Now that the heat is here – mid-80s at mid-afternoon – the National Weather Service has upgraded its alert to an Excessive Heat Warning. But it’s also shortened the duration; instead of stretching into Thursday, the NWS is currently expecting the alert to expire late Wednesday night. The alert warns of: “Dangerously hot conditions with daytime temperatures in the low to mid 90s and lows in the 60s expected. This will pose a major risk of heat-related illness.” Keep yourself hydrated (and if you have a bird bath, keep that full too).

Chris August 13, 2023 (5:00 pm)

Not to dismiss the seriousness of a heat wave but Texas and Arizona must be laughing if reading this right now…….low to mid 90’s…..my sister lives outside of Dallas and would kill for the low 90’s……

WSB August 13, 2023 (5:23 pm)

It’s all relative. In Vegas or Phoenix (don’t know about TX), it’s routinely 100 this time of year, but they were dealing with 115. Here, we’re supposed to be 75-ish, so 90 is trouble.
Matt August 13, 2023 (5:29 pm)

Chris – If not for the alert, some people may not be aware there was forecast a sudden lift in temps and gone outside unprepared. A hike in 75 is much different than a hike in 90. I also lived in Texas for a decade and hot is hot. If it’s 90 or 110 out, you better bring sun protection, lots of water, and ideally not be doing anything physically demanding outside during the hottest time of the day, regardless if down South or in the PNW.
CAM August 13, 2023 (7:12 pm)

I’ve lived in Texas. I’m not laughing at a heat warning in Seattle for 90+ degrees. Just the same as when I lived in Texas I didn’t laugh at cold weather/ice/snow warnings despite having lived in a northern Midwest climate.
- Karen August 14, 2023 (1:05 pm)
  
  Well said!!
Texas Native August 13, 2023 (8:31 pm)

Your sister who lives outside Dallas has air conditioning. Most places in Texas you have the air conditioning running from March to November, and at least a few times per month during the “winter” months as well. I got so sick of having to explain this to my Texas family and friends that I had some of them come visit in August and stay in my townhouse that didn’t have air conditioning. They never laughed at 85 in Seattle again.
Rhonda August 13, 2023 (10:37 pm)

Our bodies are acclimated to daytime 70s and nighttime 50s. 95° in the Puget Sound area is like 115° in Dallas or Phoenix.
- Chris August 14, 2023 (7:31 am)
  
  Not so sure. Drink water? Seek shade? Get a fan? https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/data/seattle-is-no-longer-the-least-air-conditioned-major-metro-area/#:~:text=For%20the%20first%20time%2C%20the,now%20belongs%20to%20San%20Francisco.
Jennifer August 14, 2023 (7:26 am)

I grew up in Texas, now lived in Seattle for 6 years. I don’t have ac. 95 is hotter than 72. In Texas you don’t actually spend much time outside experiencing the 100+ temps. You stay inside in the 72 ac. In Seattle only 21% of homes have central ac. In Texas that is 98%.

Jackie August 13, 2023 (5:38 pm)

It’s still very common in Seattle to have no a/c. Not so much in Texas or Arizona.

Sam-c August 13, 2023 (6:21 pm)

Yeah, no AC here. When we had the 100’F + heat wave in June 2021, our house was 90’+ for multiple days. I wish we could afford to add AC at our place.

WSCurmudgeon August 13, 2023 (6:04 pm)

Noël Coward’s classic song (1931) about the inability/unwillingness of the English to adapt to tropical climates. Sung by the author.

Mad Dogs and Englishmen

Jay August 13, 2023 (6:23 pm)

As someone who used to live in the Midwest, 90’s are hot no matter where you live. The main difference is how the areas are equipped to deal with those temps and the PNW is severely lacking. You can’t compare a desert/subtropical area to an area that has historically mild temps.

Ish Kabibble August 13, 2023 (7:06 pm)

1995, over 700 died in Chicago, mortality rates across the upper MW matched it.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/chicago-learned-climate-lessons-from-its-deadly-1995-heat-wave1/

I’m sweating and will be if it’s in the 80 on Thursday August 13, 2023 (7:33 pm)

86 degrees for Thursday is close to 90 degrees, Seattle isn’t the Midwestern or Texas or Arizona and most people don’t have air conditioning and aren’t use to this heat If we lived in those states we would be used to this heat