Wyatt Haupt Jr.
The Daily World
A so-called “Heat Dome” put a lid on hot air in Grays Harbor County and the Pacific Northwest last weekend, in turn sending daily high temperatures into triple digits for some areas.
The dome, which is a result of high pressure circulating in the atmosphere and trapping heat at the surface, led to new highs being set in Hoquiam, Olympia and Seattle.
“Temperatures are going to be hot pretty much everywhere,” said Mary Butwin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Seattle. “Even if you cool down a little, it’s going to take time to get down to Western Washington conditions.”
Hoquiam shattered its previous daily high temperature with a reading of 103 degrees at 12:49 p.m. on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. The previous high of 95 degrees was set on Aug. 19, 2016 and Aug. 10, 1981.
Aberdeen also broke into triple digits on Sunday, but fell short of its daily record of 105 degrees, which was established on Aug. 10, 1981. Ocean Shores cracked 90 degrees shortly after 3 p.m. Sunday.
Olympia hit a record 105 degrees on Sunday. The previous record of 104 degrees was set on July 29, 2009.
Seattle also hit an all-time high with a reading of 104 degrees on Sunday. The previous record of 103 degrees was reached July 29, 2009, National Weather Service data showed.
The dome was expected to keep the heat on Grays Harbor County and the Pacific Northwest through Monday. But there is relief on the way, particularly for the coastal area.
“The good news is, hopefully, the wind will be a little more on-shore,” said Butwin on a west wind that creeps into the forecast on Tuesday and Wednesday.
That should bring temperatures down significantly in Grays Harbor County, as evidenced by a forecast high on Tuesday of 74 degrees in Aberdeen and 68 degrees in Hoquiam and Ocean Shores.
Daily temperatures should be in a similar range on Wednesday, the National Weather Service said.
Looking ahead, the Fourth of July weekend looks to be setting up nicely with highs ranging from 75 degrees in Aberdeen and Hoquiam to about 70 degrees in Ocean Shores with partly sunny to mostly sunny skies.
