Heat wave
Published 10:58 am Tuesday, July 14, 2015
June and July temperatures set new records forWestern Washington and beyond.
So just how hot was it? The heat wave that began late last month produced record-breaking high temperatures statewide. Thermometers around the state showed highs of 110 degrees in Chelan, 110 degrees at Chief Joseph Dam in Bridgeport and 113 degrees in tiny Lacrosse, Wash., in Whitman County.
In Western Washington, temperature data collected at SeaTac airport shows that beginning on June 25, high temperatures remained at 80 degrees or above for 15 days. The streak began during the last days of June with a reading of 92 degrees recorded at SeaTac airport on June 27. It then stayed hot, just falling a three or four ticks until July 2, where the thermometer stayed at 90 degrees or above for four straight days. Finally temperatures fell into a more normal range on July 10 when the mercury fell to the relatively cool temperature of 73; down 11 degrees from the day before.
The unseasonably warm weather had started ramping up earlier in the month beginning June 6, when the temperatures were 80 degrees or above for five days hitting 88 degrees on June 7. On June 14 and 15 temperatures jumped again to 82 and 86 degrees on June 14 and 15. In all, there were 13 days during June with temperatures higher than 80 degrees.
