Seattle Weather/Climate Thread (Bellingham: experiences, present, extra)

[Ira500]

It hit 106 in Renton. I thought I was going to die. Hunkered down in the basement. Watered the veggie garden at 9:30 AM and it was 97 degrees. Glad we haven't seen it since.

Originally Posted by LordBalfor

Actually, the record that was set was 103 (not 101) - which was hotter than it reached on my land in SE Arizona any time in the previous 5 years (last year it did - just barely - break that record down there).

As a long-time Seattle resident (nearly 40 years now) I would NEVER in my wildest dreams have imagined it hitting 103 here in Seattle.

Ken

PS - while 103 was the "official" high, outlying areas got hotter. North of the city it reached 108.



Ken

[LordBalfor]

Originally Posted by Ira500

It hit 106 in Renton. I thought I was going to die. Hunkered down in the basement. Watered the veggie garden at 9:30 AM and it was 97 degrees. Glad we haven't seen it since.

I can relate. My wife's car needed to go into the shop and so I was driving our old "beater" car right ahead of her so that I could brng her back home when we dropped the car off. This beater had power windows - only 1 of which worked - and we got stuck in the rush-hour traffic jam down on 405 at Southcenter. We were barely moving and consequently my car started to overheat so I had no choice but to turn on the heater - when it 103 (actually no doubt warmer - since I was in Renton - which as you mention, hit 106) in a car barely moving with only 1 window able to go down.

So, yeah I can relate to your "thought I was going to die" comment to be sure.

As I said - warmer than my land in Arizona.

Ken

[Botev1912]

Originally Posted by Inkpoe

It only recently reached/set record @ 101 degrees (but that's unusual).

103 on 29-Jul-2009 and that was only the official temp. It was 110 in shade in most places which is 125 in direct sunlight. And it didn't only last a week. That summer of 2009 lasted 4 months from May 21 to September 27.

[Inkpoe]

Ah, I stand corrected. I don't know why I was fixated on 101. Thanks LordBalfor.

Originally Posted by Botev1912

103 on 29-Jul-2009 and that was only the official temp. It was 110 in shade in most places which is 125 in direct sunlight. And it didn't only last a week. That summer of 2009 lasted 4 months from May 21 to September 27.

Hmm... I never said "Summer" last a week. It wasn't that hot all summer in 2009.

[Lamplight]

Originally Posted by David Aguilar

It might have been graupel!!!

Just did a little research and I think that's what it was. I had never even heard that term until now. It was odd, I was walking on a trail in the woods and I could hear it falling all around me heating leaves and brush, to the point that it sounded like a fairly hard rain, but I wasn't getting wet at all. It was very strange.

[Botev1912]

Originally Posted by Inkpoe

Hmm... I never said "Summer" last a week. It wasn't that hot all summer in 2009.

Actually that was one of the hottest, driest and sunniest summers in Seattle's history.


Moderator cut: provide a link please

[Inkpoe]

Originally Posted by Botev1912

Actually that was one of the hottest, driest and sunniest summers in Seattle's history.

When I said it wasn't that hot that summer, I was referring to it not being one hundred degrees all the time. Because the topic was about heat waves. Why are we even talking about summer now? I mean, I was talking about Seattle's heat wave which usually lasts about a week. And you're acting like it's a whole summer thing. Its not.... that 103 temp was a one day deal during a heat wave.

And no... it wasn't that hot that summer, Seattle doesn't have "hot" summers. Having 18 days over 80 degrees in one month and the next having 18 days over 70 degrees really isn't that hot... especially to someone who has lived in hot environment. Now whether someone (want to/can) manage hot summers is another issue... but no one can seriously stand there and say that Seattle has hot summers. I do think that Seattle has a very nice summer season, but that's not really the point of anything.

[LordBalfor]

Originally Posted by Inkpoe

When I said it wasn't that hot that summer, I was referring to it not being one hundred degrees all the time. Because the topic was about heat waves. Why are we even talking about summer now? I mean, I was talking about Seattle's heat wave which usually lasts about a week. And you're acting like it's a whole summer thing. Its not.... that 103 temp was a one day deal.

And no... it wasn't that hot that summer, Seattle doesn't have "hot" summers. Having 18 days over 80 degrees in one month and the next having 18 days over 70 degrees really isn't that hot... especially to someone who has lived in hot environment. Now whether someone (want to/can) manage hot summers is another issue... but no one can seriously stand there and say that Seattle has hot summers.

Yeah, I agree. For US locals - it was a hot summer (and it DID have a relatively short period of scorching temps by most peoples' standards). However by most people's standards even that summer was not what would be considered "hot" overall - certainly not by the standards of people living in the south or the SW. Seattle's proximity to the cold waters of the North Pacific never really allows it to stay "hot" for very long. It's all relative. "Hot" for us really means "normal" (or even below average) for many people - it all depends on what you are used to.

Ken

[Botev1912]

I meant it was hot by Seattle standards. At least it felt really warm and sunny for 4 months which is very unusual.

[LordBalfor]

Originally Posted by Botev1912

I meant it was hot by Seattle standards. At least it felt really warm and sunny for 4 months which is very unusual.

By Seattle standards it WAS hot - by Seattle standards.

BTW - aside from that one superhot stretch I LOVED it.



Ken