July 2024 was third warmest on record for Seattle

Seattle just documented its third warmest July on record.

The National Weather Service in Seattle said Wednesday that the average temperature for July 2024 was 69.8 degrees Fahrenheit, making it the third warmest since records began in 1945. The month was also the 12th July in a row that recorded above-normal temperatures.

Temperature, and other weather measurements, for Seattle are recorded at Sea-Tac International Airport.

The warmest July on record was in 2015 with an average temperature of 71.2 degrees; July 2018 comes in second at 70.1 degrees. The last time the region recorded a below normal average for July was in 2012.

RELATED : Smoke or sunshine? WA’s new air quality map tells you what’s ahead

As of Thursday morning, the National Weather Service was also watching the movement of wildfire smoke from Oregon and California. If enough smoke drifts over Washington, the weather service notes that it could influence temperatures, acting similar to cloud cover and cooling things down a bit.

There is, perhaps, an odd silver lining to the smoke clouds. If they do cool temps slightly, it will happen at a time the weather service has warned of "intense and widespread heat" across the West , starting this weekend. Temperatures between 10 to 15 degrees above normal are expected in some areas along the West Coast. Western Washington can expect "minor" or "moderate" heat during this time, but the heat will hit Eastern Washington much harder.

As of Thursday afternoon, the weather service is forecasting temperatures in the mid- to high-80s over the weekend.