Temperature hits record high in Seattle

A new high-temperature record for April 6 was set today at the 5 p.m. weather-gauge measurement at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport: 79 degrees, beating the previous record high of 73 degrees set in 1977.

And it could inch a degree or two higher, said Art Gaebel, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Seattle.

The normal high for this time of year is 56 degrees in the Seattle area.

Clouds are expected to move in Saturday, cooling temperatures somewhat. Saturday's forecast high temperature is up to 70 degrees, and Sunday's forecast high is up to 65 degrees, said Carl Cerniglia, another meteorologist with the service.

The nice weekend weather could be a boon to parents taking their kids to Easter weekend events. In addition to numerous egg hunts, there's a "Bunny Hop" 1- and 2-mile fun run for kids at 10 a.m. Saturday at Magnuson Park and an Easter brunch at the Woodland Park Zoo.

There's also a free, 10-kilometer walk through Foster Island and the University of Washington Arboretum. The walk starts at the UW E-5 parking lot anytime between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Walkers must finish by 4 p.m. A 6K walk also is available.

By Monday, the normal weather pattern for the area will return: highs in the 50s, cloudy, chance of showers.

The sunny, warm weather this weekend is the result of an upper-level high-pressure air system combining with lower-level easterly winds coming off the mountains, Cerniglia said.

"So enjoy it while it's here," he said. "It's a good day to spend outside."

Sanjay Bhatt: 206-464-3103 or sbhatt@seattletimes.com