Unimaginable.  Historic.  Generational.  Impactful.  Hard to pin down one word to describe the heat event that has literally cooked the PNW.  This 'Heat Storm' has broken all time records for the highest daytime temps ever recorded, warmest overnight lows ever recorded (for any summer month, let alone June) in many locations.  We’ll try to keep this very brief today; cool & brief.

 

Record heat will continue for another day or two west side, then begin to subside.  Cooler, onshore marine-influence air will pour into western inland locations starting this evening.  Winds could be surprisingly strong and present record-breaking temperature drops (yep, there goes another record).  The region will remain above normal in the temp department for several days, but at least it will cool into the upper 80s - lower 90s west side; east of the Cascades will remain hot.  

 

4th of July:  temps still on the warm-to-hot side.  PLEASE postpone setting off fireworks — this is simply not time to risk FIRES.  Period.  

 

Cooler yet by July 6, beginning over BC, WA then sweeping south into OR.  California will remain quite hot through July 11.  In the PNW, west side morning clouds along with seasonable - maybe even a bit cooler than normal - temperatures are on the charts for the weekend of July 10,11 and on into the following week.  East side temps will fall, too.  

 

If you would like to hear how this will impact agricultural operations, you can listen to an interview with KGMI Bellingham Morning Farm Show and myself, as we deep dive on the impacts to our industry. Listen at the link below:

 

Fry Day June 25

 

The time has come for what will probably be a record breaking heat wave across the entire west coast.  The charts we monitor here hinted that 'something was up' way back on June 14; by last Friday the 18th, your WxCafé (TM) put out the call for preparations for heat issues.  As long-time Patrons know, the wx models are not always ‘crazy’ and do, indeed, provide careful planners a chance to be prepared ahead of time.  Hope you took heed.  

 

Primary Peak Heat period:  Sat through Mon.  Triple digit or top-shelf 90s temps will be in play.  The rarity of a heat event of this magnitude is being well presented by all weather specialists across the PNW.  Heed their notices concerning heat stroke, working outside, pets, and - while it seems SO OBVIOUS - don’t leave any person or pet (or even a plant) inside a vehicle (reports of this taking place happens every heat wave).  

 

Now, a couple features that are so unique to this potential event:  1) overnight lows may actually break records for ‘warmth' (as temps are likely to be in the 68-72 degree range — which is our AVERAGE daytime high temperatures for this time in June);  2) daytime highs may exceed 110 degrees in places on both sides of the Cascades.  Fortunately, the humidity around the region will be low, which will help a tiny bit.  It has been reported that the Seattle area has approx. 34% of homes with air conditioning.  Whoa.  Box fans will be more sought after than gold.

 

How long will this last?  For several days now, models have charted temps to exceed 90 degrees in many west side locations from today through the 4th of July.  The last couple of model runs have hinted Nature’s air conditioner will be fixed, meaning cooler air could begin infiltrating inland areas west of Cascades as early as Tue or Wed next week.  Too early to predict that with confidence, so we'll call for 4 to 5 consecutive days of heat wave temps (90 or above in the shade) starting today, Fry Day.  Some models drop the heat a bit the middle of next week, then pop it back up into the 90s west side during the 4th of July weekend; others keep that onshore flow holding down temps in the 80s.  East of the Cascades, it will remain seriously HOT for the next 7 days.

 

We’ll focus on the upcoming holiday weekend in our next discussion.  That said, long-range charts suggest another rather hot period around July 8-10.  NO rain.  Californians will be suffering through the heat, as well.

 

Agricultural impact:  aside from the challenge of keeping moisture in plant root zones, the excessive heat will cause a drop in production, as well as sun-scold, shrivel & mushiness - all attributes that, for the small fruit industry, lowers the percentage of packs that can go into the high $$ end IQF market (individually quick frozen / poly-bag).  Small fruit growers are going to be impacted.  

 

Stop by again on Monday for another update.  Heed all Nat’l Wx Service watches & warnings — Very few of us have ever experienced such heat - - it’s nothing to joke about.  

 

 

 

Build up your ice supply.  A particularly long streak of hot weather is possible.  The current heat is a tease.  Iced coffee anyone?

 

The heat today will ease a little bit on Tues, with most of the 'onshore flow' cooling taking place Wed & Thu.  By Fri, temps will begin to rebound into the balcony seats of miserable.  The coming weekend (Jun 26-27) has the chance to be one for the record books, with serious heat arriving across much of the West.  Temps are likely to reach into the upper 90s or lower 100s in many OR west side locations; Patrons in WA will also be hit by the oven, although not quite so hot.  

 

The key feature we wish to point out in this discussion is that model solutions are indicating the heat-up next weekend could extend through the end of June and into early July.  While if may not be quite as hot as the Jun 26-29 period, temps could remain in the lower 90s in many locations west of the Cascades; hotter east of the Cascades.  California will also continue to, figuratively, melt away in the heat.  Energy usage, brown-outs, water concerns are all going to get magnified across the entire Western 1/3 of the Nation.  High evapotranspiration rates will challenge Agriculture and shallow-rooted landscaping.  Plan accordingly, esp if you are going to be away on vacation.

 

Generally, a cooling trend is charting for roughly after Jul 5 or 6, west side.  Still hot in the east.  Some model runs bring back a decent onshore flow around the 4th or so, but either way, the overall pattern - between Fri Jun 25th & Jul 5th - isn’t looking good for Patrons that do not like it hot.  We hope the models are totally wrong!

 

 

Ready.  Set.  Roast.  That’s about it for the PNW.  The oven door will be open periodically through the end of June.  Plan your cooling techniques.  

 

Breezy & warm today.  HEAT this weekend will build up each day, with Sunday the warmer of the two.  Then, Monday will be the hottest day of this round of heat (many locales will hit a record).  Portions of the Willamette Valley have a real chance to top in the triple digit range. Puget Sound could top in the 90s.  But wait there’s more - - 

 

Cooler temps begin on Tue, although still in the 90s for many, with Wed - Fri providing a short period of ‘closed oven door’ relief.  After that, Nature will open the oven once again.  This time, it will get HOTTER still.  Seriously, the pattern for the period of Jun 26-29 (+/- a day or so) is charting to be one for the record books, potentially.  Triple digit temps possible in many west side locales, and yes, eastern basins.   Onshore winds should begin to ‘air condition’ western locations by late Tue or Wed, Jun 29,30.  It will be WINDY.  Quite Dusty, too, east of the Cascades.  

 

For the whole period discussed above, Calif Patrons will COOK.  Temperatures in the Golden State will glow golden heat.  Yikes.  >>> Water issues across the entire western 1/3 of the US are going to expand to concerning levels as the summer of 2021 progresses.  

 

Overall cooling is possible after the 30th, but no measurable rainfall is popping up on the charts.  Early July is trending cool, with chance for morning drizzle or scattered showers for a day or two.  Hopefully.

 

Another quip from the ’Net:  “A car’s weakest part is the nut holding the steering wheel."

 

 

The rain has refreshed both land and people of the great PNW.  Thank goodness, because the coming dry spell will snap land & people right back into drought concerns.  Got your Mug ready?  Here goes - - 

 

Additional precipitation is possible today through Tue, before that pesky Low off the coast ‘fills in”.  Expect more sunshine by mid-week, with afternoon temperatures popping right back into summer mode by Thu & Fri.  Recall our Heads or Tails discussion from last week?  Well, Tails it is.   

 

Model solutions for the coming weekend have resolved away from any moisture or coolness, projecting instead rather warm-to-hot conditions.  In fact, the PNW is likely heading into a heat wave, with afternoon temps jumping into the 90s+ starting Sunday and continuing well into next week.  Coastal locations may get relief from an onshore breeze to mitigate the heat.  

 

The week of Jun 21-25 is trending DRY & HOT.  By Tue or Wed, temps may top the hottest of 2021 thus far for many west side locations.  Patrons in NW WA & southern BC will likely get in the summer heat mode, as well.  The only cooling possible depends on whether or not an onshore breezy picks up enough to push some marine air into west side valley locations.  Even then, it will probably remain too hot for Patrons that don’t like mid-to-upper 80s temps.  A major heat wave will grip UT & desert SW states.  

 

Weekend of Jun 26,27: while a long-way out on the charts, Sat is trending HOT, with temps possibly topping triple digits in the southern Willamette Valley, Roseburg, Medford areas.  Sunday could be - finally - the start of a period of COOL DOWN, with cooler air aloft drifting over the PNW;  resulting showers for both sides of the Cascades during the last week of Jun 2021.  

 

“You are getting old if it takes you longer to rest than it did to get tired.”