Another year, another heat wave, and another round of broken records. The Seattle area has set a new record for the most consecutive days with temps over 90 degrees — six days.
Where is the Pacific Northwest heat wave coming from?
Medford tied a record high of 107 degrees on Monday, while Dallesport, Wash., on the border with Oregon, soared to a record-tying 108. The heat is originating from a ridge of high pressure, or “heat dome,” that’s parked in the northeastern Pacific west of British Columbia.
Why does Seattle get so hot?
The cause of the heat is a ridge of high pressure — colloquially known as a “heat dome” — languishing in the extreme northeast Pacific just offshore of British Columbia. That’s yielding a broad region of subsidence, or sinking air.
How hot did it get in Seattle during the heat wave?
An estimated 800 people in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia died from the conditions last year in June and July as a “heat dome” settled over the region and the temperature in Seattle hit a record-breaking 108.
Did Seattle break the heat record?
Seattle broke its record-high temperature Tuesday, reaching 94 degrees Fahrenheit. In Oregon, the governor declared a state of emergency due to the hot weather. Officials in Seattle and Portland opened cooling centers across the cities.
What is causing the high temperatures in the Northwest?
On 24 June, a heavy band of clouds associated with an extratropical cyclone is seen over the Eastern Pacific and Gulf of Alaska. Heat released in these clouds ended up in the cloud-free region over Western North America on 29 June, where a blocking anticyclone formed and caused the extreme heat.
Why is so hot in the Northwest?
The oppressive heat that settled in the Pacific Northwest was the result of a wide and deep mass of high-pressure air that, because of a wavy jet stream, parked itself over much of the region. Known as a heat dome, such an enormous high-pressure zone acts like a lid, trapping heat so it accumulates.
Will Seattle have a hot summer 2022?
Coming off of a hot, record-breaking summer in 2021, summer 2022 looks to feature above-average temperatures with below-average precipitation.
Is Seattle getting warmer?
Pacific Northwest winters are projected to become warmer and wetter, and summers warmer and drier. That means more rain than snow falling on the Cascade Mountains and eventually more prolonged periods of drought. It also likely means changing forests, stressed salmon habitat, and even wildfires.
How will global warming affect Seattle?
Sea-Level Rise
Climate change is expected to accelerate rising sea levels during the next century. Central estimates indicate that Seattle will experience 10 inches of sea-level rise by 2050, and 28 inches by 2100, and 47 inches by 2150.
What’s the hottest it gets in Seattle?
Washington state’s new maximum temperature record: 120 degrees Fahrenheit
- Author: Helen Smith.
- Published: 4:20 PM PST February 10, 2022.
- Updated: 7:12 AM PST February 11, 2022.
What’s the hottest it’s ever been in Washington State?
120°F
Hottest temperature ever recorded: 120°F at Hanford on 29 June 2021. Lowest temperature ever recorded: -48°F at Mazama and Winthrop on 30 December 1968. Most rain in 24 hours: 14.26″ at Mt.
What is the hottest it’s been in Seattle?
Seattle – June 28, 2021 is now the hottest day on record in Seattle. The National Weather Service said its station at Sea-Tac reached 107 degrees Monday afternoon.
What was the hottest day in 2022?
07/20/2022: The hottest day of the year.
When was the last time Seattle had 100 degrees?
July 20, 1994
July 29, 2009: 103 degrees. June 26, 2021: 102 degrees. July 20, 1994: 100 degrees.
Is the Pacific Northwest getting warmer?
The Pacific Northwest’s average temperature has warmed more than 2 F compared with a century ago, with most of that change in the last 40 years. In addition, the number of extreme heat days has doubled in less than a century, and it likely won’t stop at that, said Larry O’Neill, Oregon’s state climatologist.
How many people died during the PNW heat wave?
Washington State has officially reported that 95 people died from heat-related causes during the week of the heat wave, but investigations are continuing.
How long does a heat wave last?
two days
According to the National Weather Service, a heat wave is defined as “a period of abnormally hot weather generally lasting more than two days.” “Heat waves can occur with or without high humidity.
Will a heat dome happen again?
Under current climate conditions, the study estimates that the heat dome event will happen once every 1,000 years.
Is the heat dome moving?
Heat domes normally persist for several days in any one location, but they can last longer. They can also move, influencing neighboring areas over a week or two. The heat dome involved in the June 2022 U.S. heat wave crept eastward over time. On rare occasions, the heat dome can be more persistent.
Where is heat dome now?
Now the heat dome is languishing over the Tennessee Valley and bringing highs of 95 to 100 degrees from the Corn Belt to the Carolinas, with exceptional humidity in the Midwest exacerbating just how sultry it feels. High humidity levels are contributing to heat index values pushing 115 degrees in spots.