Yesterday (Sunday), was one of the vital excessive high-temperature days in western Washington historical past.
In some methods, virtually the equal of the June 2021 heatwave.
Think about a map of the excessive temperatures on Sunday (under, click on on picture to develop). 88F at Sea Tac and decrease 90s in some areas.
Superb for mid-October.
As famous in my earlier blogs, this warmth was related to robust easterly (from the east) winds that warmed by compression as they descended into western Washington.
Now let me persuade you ways uncommon this was. Think about Paine Discipline in Everett. At this station, the temperature reached 87F–the warmest October day on report at that location. The runner-up was 4F cooler. SeaTac had its second warmest day on report, with the warmest day being on October 1.
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| October Data |
However let me impress you much more.
Through the June 2021 heatwave…the best in Northwest historical past… SeaTac Airport jumped to 108F, 17F above the earlier report excessive for the date. On Sunday, SeaTac hit 88F, 16F above the earlier report for the date.
At Everett, the excessive of 87F on Sunday was 29F above the standard excessive for that date, whereas on June twenty eighth, the 100F temperature was 31F above the traditional excessive.
The underside line: yesterday was excessive and uncommon.
Smoke Safety
Immediately, plenty of smoke was blowing overhead however air high quality was first rate at low ranges.
Why?
To point out the smoke, here’s a seen satellite tv for pc picture round midday. It appeared like one thing out of Dante’s Inferno! Later satellite tv for pc imagery appeared comparable.
However the air high quality map round 6 7 PM confirmed first rate air high quality round Puget Sound, with the worst situations round Olympia (anticipated because of quite a few smoke-filled rooms).
It seems the one thing was defending us dwelling at decrease elevations, stopping the smoke from mixing to the floor.
The title of our pal? The Inversion.
Inversions happen then the temperature warms with elevation. Inversions suppress mixing.
Why did we now have an inversion? As a result of cool marine air at low ranges moved in in a single day, whereas heat air remained aloft.
That produces an inversion.
Here’s a plot of temperature (crimson line) and dew level (blue dashed) from the launch of the balloon-lofted climate station (radiosonde) at Forks on the WA coast round 5 PM this afternoon. Round 5000 ft the temperature will increase with top. That’s the inversion!
The inversion ought to weaken however stay in place on Tuesday so I anticipate our air to stay breathable.
