Freak Spring Heat In Puget Sound: Is This A Bad Thing?

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

SEATTLE, WA — It's only the first week of May, but Western Washington is headed into a very August-like stretch of weather. We haven't had rain in about two weeks, and temperatures are going to hit the 80s starting on Thursday.

So, is it time to start freaking out about wilting flowers, drought, dead lawns, and wildfires? Is this a preview of a long, hot, dry summer?

The short answer is we don't know. Experts are advising local residents to enjoy the warm, sunny, dry weather — but don't let your guard down.

We'll tackle the scary stuff first. There have been 239 wildfires so far in 2019 in Washington, which is the highest in 10 years (the second-highest was in 2015 170), according to state officials. There is some concern this May heat wave might spark new fires, especially with people spending more time outdoors, increasing the chance someone will leave a campfire smoldering or throw a firecracker into a canyon.

"We're very concerned already," state Department of Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman Janet Pearce said Tuesday. "Our fire season is here now. It's starting a little earlier than usual."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/freak-spring-heat-in-puget-sound-is-this-a-bad-thing/ar-AAB3ykP

[Juneboarder]

1. Every time I've visited Seattle in April/May

it's always been gorgeous and in the low 80's, no clouds and abundance of sunshine. I always thought I brought it with me from San Diego, but maybe it's becoming more of the norm?

[IADEMO2004]

2. Ask a gray whale. Bad week for them. Connection I don't know.

[Wounded Bear]

3. Was out and about today...

saw some of those high clouds I usually associate with a more desert-like climate. Usually, we have those scattered cumulous clouds, fleecy white puffs, not those high strato-cumulous ones.

[samnsara]

4. here in central wash we went from snow to summer in about a week. no spring at all.