Standout Seattle summer to bring more heat

For everyone who has ever roasted a marshmallow over an electric stove on Memorial Day, who has seen half a Little League season wiped out by rain in June, who has watched Fourth of July fireworks swaddled in down jackets and mittens — this summer is for you.

The dry, sunny weather that began in May shows no sign of cooling off, clouding over or even drizzling just a bit.

Monday broke a record dating back to 1891 for the driest May 20 to July 19 stretch ever.

Just 0.24 inch of rain fell at the Federal Building in Seattle, eclipsing the previous driest stretch of 0.57 inch in 1938.

And not to gloat, but much of the rest of the country is griping about rain and cold. In Washington, D.C., known for its sweltering, humid summers, the thermostat this July hasn't broken 90 degrees.

New York City recorded more than 10 inches of rain in June, prompting Mayor Michael Bloomberg to quip: "It only rained twice this week — once for three days and once for four days."

In Bismarck, N.D., rain swamped streets, stalled vehicles and collapsed a bowling alley roof in June. Through July, more than 10 inches of rain had fallen there. Concord, N.H., had just less than 10 inches of rain in June and July, and St. Louis, Mo., almost 9 inches.

Here in Seattle, there's not much complaining — yet. Temperatures are supposed to climb into the 90s — possibly the upper 90s — over the weekend and stay well above normal, according to the National Weather Service in Seattle. The normal temperature for this time of year is 76 degrees.

There's a slight chance of thunderstorms north of Seattle on Thursday, raising the possibility of lightning strikes and fires. Particularly with the weather expected to stay hot and dry, fire danger will be high, said meteorologist Brent Bower.

The threat of temperatures in the upper 90s brings warnings about heat exposure and air quality. The National Weather Service hasn't issued a heat advisory for the weekend yet, but local emergency-management offices say they're monitoring the forecasts, ready to open cooling stations and alert vulnerable populations if the mercury climbs too high.

For now though, Seattleites are enjoying the perfect summer weather.

At Madrona Beach on Lake Washington on Tuesday, lifeguards rotated between the high lookout chair near the shore and the rowboat off the swimming area's floating dock. Beach manager Natan Antolin said his crew of six lifeguards typically spend late June and early July training in the rain and waiting for the weather to warm up.

This summer, he said, they've had as many as 500 people visit the beach on a single day.

"We're hearing from people about how hot it's been and how fun it is," he said.

Madden Strawn, 3, ran through the fountains at Capitol Hill's Miller Community Center in the midafternoon heat while his parents, Cory Strawn and Traci Fontyn, leaned back on the nearby grass in sunglasses and shorts. The family, who recently moved to Seattle from Portland, said their son beats the heat by playing in water, even at the dog area at Magnuson Park, where he recently got down in the lake on all fours.

"We've got to appreciate it while it's here," Fontyn said of the good weather.

And gloat just a bit? Cory Strawn had just talked with a friend in New Hampshire. "He said it was raining and cold."

Lynn Thompson: 206-464-8305 or lthompson@seattletimes.com

Information from The Associated Press and The New York Times

was included in this report.

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