Extended heat wave ahead for Bellingham, raising risk of wildfires and health emergencies

Summer’s first extended heat wave will bake Western Washington later this week and beyond, pushing temperatures into the lower 80s and possibly the 90s.

That’s fueling concerns about wildfires and health risks related to the heat.

Latest forecasts from the National Weather Service in Seattle show Whatcom County temperatures rising daily this week, reaching the lower 80s by Friday. Warmer temperatures are forecast for Seattle and southwest Washington state.

“A more significant shift in the pattern is in store starting around the Independence Day holiday for the region as the ridge of high pressure offshore begins to shift eastward toward the region. This will bring afternoon temperatures into the upper 70s to mid-80s across much of the interior and signal the start of several days of well above normal temperatures,” meteorologist Matthew Cullen said in Tuesday’s online forecast discussion.

Daytime temperatures will continue to rise through at least Monday, leading to a moderate heat risk, Cullen said.

It’s possible that temperatures could climb higher if the cooling ocean breezes don’t return, and the heat risk could reach the “major” level, he said.

“Beyond the heat-related concerns, expect that daytime relative humidities will steadily move closer to critical thresholds, resulting in the potential for increased fire weather concern, especially in proximity to the Independence Day holiday,” Cullen said.