The Heat is On

The National Weather Service has had us under a heat advisory for the last few days and it has been toasty. Temps have been in the upper eighties and low nineties. Today, tomorrow and Tuesday are supposed to be the hottest of the the week. NWS is suggesting the temps will be in the mid-nineties with heat indexes at or above the century mark. The heat index is a measure of atmospheric conditions that effect the way we feel heat. We still have some residual moisture in the air which adds to a muggy feeling. Our low elevation adds extra "weight" as well so we will feel every bit of a 100 degrees if the mercury meets 95. If you go up to the mountains where the air is thinner you may feel less heat even if the temperature is the same. Remember just because you "feel" less hot does not mean it IS less hot. Humidity typically amplifies the effects of heat as well. We have been running at relative humidity in the 45%-60% range which gives the air a little "stickiness". Stay hydrated and minimize direct sun exposure.

Look at that forecast for Independence Day, mid eighties, that is sweet.

Stay cool these next few days and enjoy our late sunshine. Temps will remain quite warm and comfortable during our very long Northwest summer twilight and into the midnight hours. We screamed for summer, now it is here, soak it my friends, soak it up.

Wild and Wet June will Flip a 180

With only 1.7 inches of rain in the bucket this month we are actually leaning towards a lower than average rainfall total for the month. Yet it somehow feels like it poured all month.  Perhaps it was the localized heavy squalls that dumped copious sums of water down upon us. Some of these may have missed the rain bucket. Maybe it has been this latest long stretch of mildly cool and cloudy weather late in June that has led to the damp perceptions.

All of that is about to change my friends.  The National Weather Service has issued a Weather Statement for the end of this week and into next week.  It's not for thunderstorms either.

"A STRONG UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD NORTH AND
WEST FROM ARIZONA AND UTAH THURSDAY AND FRIDAY...CAUSING
TEMPERATURES TO HEAT UP ACROSS MUCH OF THE WESTERN UNITED STATES.
NORTHWEST OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON WILL BE NO EXCEPTION...
WITH INLAND VALLEY HIGHS WARMING UP TO AROUND 80 DEGREES THURSDAY
AND PUSHING 90 DEGREES FRIDAY. HUMIDITY LEFT OVER FROM OUR RECENT
RAINS WILL MAKE IT FEEL MUGGIER THAN USUAL...AND NIGHTS WILL BE
SLOW TO COOL OFF."

So, all of you complainers that have been whining about the cool temps and wet conditions this is for you. Do not let me hear you moaning about how hot it is this weekend. Here is the NWS forecast...

Summer will arrive a few days early. We may see the first 90 degree mark of the year this week. Soak it up.