Okay, how many "hot" days like this should I expect per year? (Seattle: gas, apts)

[pnwguy2]

One other factor about Seattle area heat that I don't think has been addressed is the "heat island" effect. As Seattle and Bellevue continue to grow, as well as other suburbs, the heat increases due to development. Before some of you get up in arms about this statement, consider this...I am pro-development through and through. So this is not an anti-development rant. Instead, there is science backing up the theory that the more development, the higher the temperatures. We have seen this in downtown Seattle for decades, but now perhaps it is casting an even wider shadow. The temp change is probably not major, but could play a part in warmer temps.

[strad]

Originally Posted by pnwguy2

One other factor about Seattle area heat that I don't think has been addressed is the "heat island" effect. As Seattle and Bellevue continue to grow, as well as other suburbs, the heat increases due to development. Before some of you get up in arms about this statement, consider this...I am pro-development through and through. So this is not an anti-development rant. Instead, there is science backing up the theory that the more development, the higher the temperatures. We have seen this in downtown Seattle for decades, but now perhaps it is casting an even wider shadow. The temp change is probably not major, but could play a part in warmer temps.

The heat island effect is not a strict side effect of city development, it is a side effect of changing the natural landscape in a way that causes that area to store more heat. chopping down a bunch of trees to create a big grass meadow can also produce a heat island effect as you have reduced the natural ability of that area to shed heat. In cities, concrete is the main contributor to the heat island effect as concrete is really good at storing solar energy and slowly radiating it back into the environment (which is why the heat island effect is usually more pronounced at night). Many building techniques can reduce or eliminate this effect--green roofs, shade trees around boulevards, light-colored surfaces that reflect more light, etc.

Most new development in Seattle is LEED certified which usually includes provisions for reducing the heat island effect.

[pnwguy2]

Yeah, what he/she said!

[rodentraiser]

Originally Posted by AmFest

But I never did wet t-shirts, so it actually didn't happen for me. You're the one that did.

But you see, that's the great thing about this. You can do the wet T-shirt thing and look at yourself in the mirror all you want.


When I tell people I'm too hot, I am on topic here and I'm NOT talking about my looks. I'm almost 60 years old. It's almost to the point where I have to buy the girls their own slippers and shoes. Seriously, you can't unsee something like that. Now, do you really want me to post a pic? Because I'd just as soon not get banned from the forum for making everyone go "ewwwwwwwww...". This is City Data, not Wal-mart......

[MarciaMarshaMarcia]

^^^OMG!!! You need to go into standup comedy!!! Can I be your BFF??

[Ruth4Truth]

Well, according to the forecast, it's supposed to cool off pretty soon, and that trend will last about a week and a half, then the last week of the month will head into the 80's again.

[pnwguy2]

Where did this thread derail?

[revelated]

Originally Posted by shaxs

Today was hot in my townhome. I am coming from Texas where it is routinely 100+ degrees, but we have ac. I do not have AC in my rental townhome. My poor 8 month old is sweating bullets and having trouble sleeping. When the sun goes down and the temp drops outside, we have fans in the windows or open windows in the house which make it nice. But my daughter was sick today and we were home all day and it was pretty miserable. I am trying to decide if I should buy a portable ac so that family can sleep during these comparatively few "hot" days. How many days a year should we expect temps like this?

Temps "like this"? Four months.

And before I get attacked, temps "like this" = 70-90 degrees. So no, I'm not wrong.

OP, since you're renting, get a portable AC unit.

[rodentraiser]

Originally Posted by thisplacesucks

^^^OMG!!! You need to go into standup comedy!!! Can I be your BFF??

Of course!

Originally Posted by pnwguy2

Where did this thread derail?

My fault. I'm sorry.


But....getting back on topic, get an air conditioner. You might not use it more than a few days a year, but if you need it for those few days, you're really gonna need it!

[pnwguy2]

It's all cool, so to speak. (BTW, as I write this my AC in the Tri-Cities is running, and is set at 80!). Perhaps a trip to the cool westside is in order.