A 'nine times ten' degree weekend in store for most of the PNW, with a relatively long stretch of pleasant temperatures to begin next week.  Refill that Mug.

 

The weekend will be a bit too warm for many, as temps should top out in the low-to-mid 90s.  Monday is also on tap for 90+, as well.  (It will be a few degrees cooler in the north Puget Sound region, per usual.)  Good news, is on the charts for Tue Aug 9 on through the weekend of Aug 13,14 as cooler temperatures will begin.  In fact, by next weekend, it could be slightly below normal for high temps around the PNW.  In the meantime, expect temps to slowly cool each day after Monday the 8th.  Some moisture may ride up with a SW flow aloft over the eastern basins next week, so expect a shower or boomer to develop mid-week.

 

As stated, the second weekend of Aug looks on the cooler side of summer, with onshore breeze tapping down temps from the coast to the western slopes of the Cascades.  Cooler east side by Thu.  The week of Aug 15-19 is trending on the mild side, with afternoon temps rising a bit from the previous weekend, currently charting to top out in the low-mid 80s west side.  Given the potential flow aloft that week, regional humidity will likely be higher than normal for August.  We’ll see.

 

Early yet, but the weekend of Aug 20,21 is charting below normal for temps, as an onshore flow continues to dominate our wx pattern.

 

The Song of Summer.  It's being reported by Patrons that the annual "Song of Summer” is just starting in various locations from Salem north (your host, an Entomologist by profession, has written about listening for these classic Chirps of Nature for over 25 yrs).  Western field crickets are beginning their summer song, which typically starts across western OR & WA around Aug 6-10, depending on the overall wx pattern beforehand.  Once their chirps get going, the Song of Summer will last well into the frosts of Fall.  The fun part is listening in the evening for when that Song begins in your area.  Adults & children enjoy this annual exercise. Report your findings rrufus@yahoo.com, please. 

 

 

 

The new month will present cooler temps to start, with the first couple of weekends being the warmest.  Here’s the latest outlook.

 

Onshore flow this week will tap temperatures down into a more pleasant range (70s-80s west side).  The Puget Sound area will cool down even more mid-week, as a weak Low pressure trough glances the area.  Don’t put the sunshade & sunscreen away, as more summer temps should arrive on the weekends.

 

By Aug 6 & 7, temperatures will pop back up again, with western valley in OR teasing out the upper 80s to lower 90s on Sunday Aug 7; warmer, too, for NW WA & Vancouver Is., as well.  For next week, the 8th - 12th, model solutions have presented two different scenarios - one with warm-to-hot temps, the other with mild onshore-flow temps.  For now, let’s split the difference and call for continued dry, pleasant-to-warm afternoons with a NW breeze that will decrease by Fri Aug 12.

 

The second weekend of Aug looks to be ‘summer-warm', turning a bit cooler on Mon Aug 15 as that next week begins.  

 

Broadly speaking, models indicate an onshore flow pattern in place the next two work weeks, bracketed by ‘summer-warm' weekends.  The eastern regions of WA & OR will run a bit warmer, per normal.  (FYI: around The WxCafé™️ counter, ‘summer-warm’ is defined as temps in the mid-to-upper 80s.)

 

 

 

Records could be broken this weekend.  Mug up for details.

 

The current heat wave, while not necessarily reaching record high temperatures, could extend an extra day (Sunday) to meet or break locational records for the number of consecutive days at or above 90 degrees.  Local wx teams will be detailing this over the weekend.  For now, we do see a cool down on Monday lasting on into the middle of next week, as the onshore flow will increase - the “on” switch for our PNW natural air conditioner.  Eastern basins will remain hot a day or two longer.

 

As next week nears an end, temps will pop up a few degrees, quite possibly back into the 90s, esp for OR & east side as the first weekend of August gets underway.  This time, another variable will be added to the hot conditions - THUNDERSTORMS.  

 

For the week of Aug 8 - 11, models indicate the monsoonal storms of the desert southwest will ride up along the eastern slopes of the Sierra and Cascade ranges, ushering in afternoon & evening thunderstorms, some of which could produce rain/showers that may drift over portions of the west side.  Monsoonal moisture could migrate north into WA, so we’ll keep a watch on this.  MUGGY conditions will make for rather uncomfortable outdoor activities.  

 

Overall, for the next couple of weeks, HOT turns cooler, then warming up again, with increased humidity and mountain (and valley?) storms as August shifts into gear.  Stop by again Mon Aug 1st for another peek ahead.  

 

“A fanatic is a person who is highly enthusiastic about something in which you are not even remotely interested.”   

 

Your interest in these forecasts keep me from being fanatical.  My friends & family say, “Thanks!"

 

 

Toasty week ahead, although the heat wave duration may be shorter & max temps a bit lower.  Let’s review the latest.  Refill time.

 

All are aware of the heat wave across the PNW this week.  What has changed since our last report is that the upper-level air flow may train SMOKE from the California fires over portions of OR, tapping down maximum temps a bit on Tue and Wed, although Tue could end up being hottest day of the week.  The other change is the projected strength of onshore flow by this coming weekend, which may be strong enough to push high temps down into the ‘air conditioned’ zone; especially Sunday.  All-in-all, still a toasty week ahead, so water-up.  Temps in the 90 to mid-90s remain in play, just not a run of triple-digit readings.  If no smoke, a 100+ reading remains probable.

 

As noted, cooler weather is on the charts beginning Sunday, with a weak trough dropping down from the NW, ushering in cool, marine air.  Breezy afternoons.  Temps by later next week - as August gets underway - may actually run a tad below normal, if recent model adjustments verify.   The weekend of Aug 6,7 is trending warm, seasonal.  

 

The second full week of Aug is charting to start out a bit cool, then warm-up into the 80s & 90s by mid-week.  

 

Bottom line: overall temps this week should trend a few degrees lower than expected, and a cooler pattern may return by Sunday.

 

“Why not? I had a better year than he did.”  -George Herman ‘Babe' Ruth - a depression era remark to a reporter who had objected to Ruth’s demanding $80,000 for the 1931 season, $5,000 more than Pres. Herbert Hoover’s salary.

 

 

Word is out on the heat wave about to arrive.  What is uncertain is the number of consecutive days with temps above 90 degrees.  Let us 'Mug through' the possibilities, shall we?

 

Pleasant temperatures today & Saturday.  Heat will begin to build into the PNW starting Sunday, with each day next week likely above 90 in many locations around the PNW.  Onshore flow will be minimal, so overnight low temps will end up being rather uncomfortable for those without air conditioning as the week progresses.  HOTTEST days could be Wed & Thu, with the Willamette Valley and SW WA topping into triple-digits.

 

We see the potential for the coming heat wave to last 5-6 days, which is longer than classic 3 days.  This will depend on how much onshore flow develops NEXT weekend.  If the marine ‘air conditioning' is nominal, temps will remain 90+ in many west side locations through Saturday July 30 or even Sunday.  Triple-digit temps are possible 3 days in a row in the Willamette Valley; longer in the usual hot southern OR zone, and east side.  

 

This heat cycle will NOT be anywhere near the extreme heat experienced the end of June 2021; still, please be neighborly - keep an eye on the elderly in your area - make sure they are keeping cool.  Remember, hundreds passed away in the PNW from the horrible heat last year, mostly seniors living alone without AC.

 

Early August is looking quite normal - temps in the upper 80s to lower 90s, with a cooler day thrown in here & there.  No rain.  Even the risk for mountain thunderstorms is low on the charts (for now).

 

—> Mind that water source for your animals, both pets and livestock.