Northwest's spring heatwave continues

An unusual spring heat wave is hitting western Canada and the U.S. Northwest. Temperatures in much of the region reached above normal temperatures by 20 degrees Fahrenheit over the weekend.

High heat remains in the forecast for Monday, with highs around 88 degrees expected in Seattle. The 80-degree weather could linger for a few more days as it tapers off into the weekend. The National Weather Service also expects thunderstorms throughout the region Monday, some of which could be severe.

UW Medicine is also reminding people to check on neighbors, especially older adults who can be more susceptible to the health effects of hot weather.

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“You generally see more visits to the ER and more mortality following heat events like what's coming up for this region," said Andrew Pershing, a climate scientist with the nonprofit Climate Central.

Hot Northwest weekend

Temperatures in some areas of Western Washington hit the mid-90s Sunday afternoon: 94 in Auburn and Kalama; and 93 in Renton, Silverdale, Carnation, Satsop, Longview, and Ocean Park. The British Columbia towns of Lytton and Squamish hit 95.

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Seattle had its warmest May 14 on record, with Seattle-Tacoma International Airport passing 89 degrees (one National Weather Service site stated temps hit 90, another said 89, so we're compromising here). These are some of the warmest temperatures on record for the Northwest this early in the year.

They’re not as extreme as the mid-summer heat that killed an estimated 1,200 in the region in 2021 and led to the town of Lytton burning to the ground after it hit 121 Fahrenheit, a national record for Canada. But this week’s temperatures are hot enough to be deadly in a region where many homes lack air conditioning.

Extreme heat waves are becoming more common around the world as human pollution continues to disrupt the global climate.