A persistent high pressure system could make this week the hottest of the summer so far on the North Olympic Peninsula.
The warm weather combined with lightning storms expected for the east end of the Peninsula on Saturday night prompted the National Weather Service to issue a 15-hour red flag warning that ended at 5 a.m. today.
Not everything about the partly cloudy weather was ominous Saturday evening.
An unusually red — and lengthy — sunset caused many Peninsula residents to look toward the west around 9 p.m. to oogle at the brilliance.
Temperatures in 80s
High temperatures in populated areas of the Peninsula are expected to rise into the 80s for most of the week as the weather system continues to pump offshore air from the interior into Western Washington.
Temperatures will be hotter eastward, as the Puget Sound area suffers highs in the 90s and even at the century mark this week.
Johnny Burg, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Seattle, said the North Olympic Peninsula will be spared the 100-degree temperatures that other parts of Western Washington will experience through the middle of the week.
“People up north [around Bellingham] and along the Strait won’t see it as hot,” Burg said.
“In the Hood Canal area, things will be a bit warmer. As you get further down south past Olympia, things get a lot warmer.”
Although hot weather is nothing unusual for late July, Burg said the duration of the heat wave is “longer than we usually see.”
Hotter in E. Jefferson
Temperatures in East Jefferson County will be slightly warmer than in the mid-Strait region, he said.
“You guys probably won’t get into the 90s in the Port Angeles and Sequim areas,” Burg told a reporter in Port Angeles on Saturday.
“It will probably get up to the upper 80s at worst Monday through Wednesday.”
Temperatures are expected to cool by the end of the week.
The hottest temperatures on the Peninsula this week are predicted for Forks and Brinnon.
Forks will reach the 90s by Wednesday after patchy fog goes away, according to the Weather Service.
LaPush to the west will remain cooler, with temperatures reaching the low 80s by Tuesday. Fog will also be persistent early this week.
Hot in Brinnon
On the opposite shore, Brinnon, which should reach 90 degrees today, rise to the mid-90s by Wednesday.
Burg said valleys of the Olympic range could see highs in the lower- to mid-90s through Wednesday.
Thunderstorms are possible, so lightning could cause wildfires in the mountains.
“People have to be aware of that,” Burg said.
Barb Maynes, Olympic National Park spokeswoman, said the fire danger is predicted to increase, and she urged park visitors “to be extremely careful” in the wilderness.
Two fires ‘smoldering’
Todd Rankin, park assistant fire management officer, said two fires in the eastern side of the park are still being watched.
Both remain small since they started from lightning strikes, Rankin said.
“They’re not blazing. They’re not raging. They are smoldering,” he said.
One fire has burned 1.5 acres, while the other has burned 20 acres, Rankin said.
The park will let them burn unless they threaten to jump the park’s boundaries or threaten any property, he said.
“These are good for the forest ecosystem,” Rankin said.
The trail to Lake Constance, about 2 miles northeast of the end of Dosewallips Road, remains closed because of the fires.
Beating the heat
The Emergency Management Division of the Clallam County Sheriff’s Department stressed precautionary measures for dealing with the warmer weather.
“With the forecast of warmer temperatures, residents are advised to drink plenty of water, avoid direct sunlight and wear lightweight clothing and hats to protect your face, neck and eyes,” said a news release.
“You should also use sunscreen protection with a minimum protection rating of at least 15 SPF. You are also advised to avoid heavy physical activity, especially during the daylight hours.
“It’s also very important to protect children and animals during warm weather. Make sure that they have plenty of water and have access to shady areas. Monitor their condition often.
“Remember that temperatures inside a vehicle, even with the windows rolled down, can quickly exceed the outside temperature and become deadly within a very short time.”
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
