Get ready, Seattle. Summer '24 is about to bring the heat

Western Washington is bracing for potentially record-breaking heat over the first weekend in July, with high temperatures expected to top 90 degrees Sunday.

While the hot temperatures might be welcome news for beachgoers, they also pose hazards for swimmers, not to mention those who work outdoors.

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With the coming heat wave, King County officials are urging everyone to take precautions when they swim in open water. More people have drowned in the county in the past five years than historically — about 30 people every year.

The air will be hot this weekend, but many lakes and rivers will still be dangerously cold, and even strong swimmers can go into shock and go under — so officials say to wear a life jacket when going into open water.

Also, they say, don’t consume drugs or alcohol before swimming. Seventy percent of drowning deaths in the county involve drugs or alcohol.

Their other advice is to supervise children closely and to be especially careful around rivers, which are cold and strong this time of year.

Washington state's rules for hot weather and outdoor workers

Washington's new heat rules for outdoor workers, including people who work in construction, on farms, or in food trucks, are expected to kick in when the heat wave arrives on Friday. The state updated its heat protection rules in 2023 and made them effective year-round. Starting at 80 degrees, employers have to provide cool drinking water and shade for rest breaks.

This weekend, temperatures will reach into the 90s throughout much of Western Washington, so the rules go up a notch. Employers will also be required to give workers 10 minutes of paid rest every two hours.

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East of the Cascades, highs will be over 100 degrees next week. At that temperature, employers have to give outdoor workers 15 minutes of paid rest every hour.

Workers should also be monitored for symptoms of heat exhaustion:

• Cold, clammy skin,
• Headaches or nausea,
• Or cramps.

Workers suffering from heat exhaustion should rest and drink water.

Heat stroke is a medical emergency. Signs of that include:

• Hot, red skin with no sweat,
• A fast, strong pulse,
• And passing out.