Seattle in for more heat, smoke before cooldown, chance of rain

Fire and smoke season is not quite over in Western Washington.

Another red flag warning for fire danger was in effect for the Cascades on Monday because of dry, warm winds blowing into Western Washington from the east and a little atmospheric instability, according to the National Weather Service in Seattle.

That same wind is expected to bring smoke to the Puget Sound region from the area’s two active fires: the Bolt Creek and Goat Rocks fires, NWS meteorologist Steve Reedy said.

The wind will also exacerbate warmer-than-normal temperatures brought by an upper-level ridge that’s expected to be over the region for three days. On Sunday, the high in Seattle hit 80 degrees, unusual for this time of year, according to the weather service.

The high was expected to be in the low 80s on Monday and 79 or 80 degrees on Tuesday. If all three days top 80, we will break another heat record: We’ve never recorded three consecutive 80-degree-plus days this late in the year, the weather service said.

Air quality in Seattle was listed as moderate Monday afternoon. The smoke over Seattle was expected to dissipate Monday afternoon, but it could be back again Tuesday, along with another red flag warning for the Cascades.

Reedy said the wind direction is expected to shift to westerly Tuesday, which means it will be coming in from the Pacific Ocean. In general, that would lower the fire danger, but it’s not clear yet how much humidity will be in that air.

“The good news is we will get a big cool-off on Wednesday and Thursday, with temperatures dropping into the low 70s or high 60s, and a chance of rain,” he said.

The chance of rain Wednesday in Seattle is 40% to 50%, he said.