PORT ANGELES — Temperatures will continue to climb into the 80s and 90s on much of the North Olympic Peninsula today and Friday during the second — and far less severe — heatwave of the summer, the National Weather Service said.
Marine air from the Strait of Juan de Fuca will moderate temperatures in populated areas and keep the region cooler than most of the Pacific Northwest, said Mary Butwin, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Seattle.
“Your cool down will start a little earlier than the interior, probably Saturday,” Butwin said in a Wednesday interview.
All-time temperature records were smashed June 28 at Quillayute Airport (110 degrees), Port Angeles (99 degrees) and Port Townsend (100 degrees) during the summer’s first hot spell.
Butwin said the second heatwave that began Wednesday is “not close to what we had in June, especially for you guys.”
“The water there is going to keep you much cooler, and the way the wind is going will make sure you still have that marine influence,” Butwin said.
Areas along the Hood Canal, including Quilcene and Brinnon, are under an excessive heat watch though 8 p.m. Friday, as is most of Western Washington.
The Pacific Coast and interior Olympic Peninsula locations like Forks are under a heat advisory through 8 p.m. Friday.
No advisories or warnings were in effect for Port Angeles, Sequim or Port Townsend.
Port Angeles was forecast to reach 87 degrees today and 82 on Friday before dropping to a pleasant 75 on Saturday.
Temperatures in Forks will soar to about 100 degrees today, 91 on Friday and fall to 78 on Saturday, according to Wednesday’s forecast.
Port Townsend was forecast to top out at 76 degrees today, 72 on Friday and 77 on Saturday.
Just 25 miles south in Quilcene, temperatures were expected to climb to 93 today, 92 on Friday and 89 on Saturday, the National Weather Service said.
The Quilcene School District and Quilcene Fire Rescue planned to host a “Cool Down Party” from noon to 6 p.m. today and Friday on the fields behind the school.
“The sprinkler will be on, and community members are welcome,” district officials said in a Facebook post.
Jefferson County Emergency Management issued a Tuesday bulletin reminding vulnerable populations to stay out of the sun during the hottest times of the day and to stay hydrated, eat light and wear loose-fitting clothing.
Butwin said a ridge of high pressure combined with down-sloping easterly winds moving across the Cascades were contributing to the latest heat wave.
Cliff Mass, a University of Washington atmospheric sciences professor and Pacific Northwest weather expert, said the latest heatwave will be less intense than initially predicted and “far less threatening than the June event.”
“In the June event, everything came together to produce a ‘black swan’ severe event,” Mass wrote at www.cliffmass.blogspot.com.
“Record ridge of high pressure, approaching trough of low pressure, strong offshore flow, and the occurrence when the sun was near maximum. None of these ingredients will be present this week.
“Bottom line: a typical heatwave for the region,” Mass added.
Cooling centers will be available in Jefferson County at the following locations and times:
• Tri-Area Community Center in Chimacum — today and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Quilcene Community Center — today and Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Brinnon Visitors Center — today and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. No air conditioning, but fans and water available.
• Port Townsend Senior Center — today and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday. No air conditioning, but fans and water available.
Masks and social distancing will be required at all locations.
Clallam County Undersheriff and Emergency Management Director Ron Cameron said Wednesday he was unaware of cooling centers planned in Clallam County.
“It’s going to be warm — warm for us — but it’s not going to be anything near what we experienced a couple months ago,” Cameron said in a telephone interview.
“I think we’re going to be OK, especially for those of us right near the water.
“Obviously, we all want to be careful, but I think for the most part we’re going to have a couple of nice days,” Cameron added.
“Granny’s Cafe is going to sell a lot of ice cream.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
