Record-breaking hot weather sears region

MOSES LAKE — Sometimes being a part of history is uncomfortable.

According to the National Weather Service office in Spokane, it was 115 degrees in Moses Lake Tuesday. That might be the hottest it’s ever been in Moses Lake.

Laurie Nisbet, meteorologist with NWS Spokane, said it is hard to tell whether 115 degrees broke a record, because there aren’t a lot of historical temperature records for Moses Lake.

There’s plenty of information for the region, and in eastern Washington, Tuesday was a record-breaker.

“There are a lot of locations in this region where we’ve got 100 to 140 years of data,” Nisbet said, and high temperatures broke records going all the way back, in some cases, to the 1880s.

The high temperatures were “unprecedented for sure,” Nesbit said.

On Wednesday, the heat in Moses Lake reached 107 degrees, according to NWS. Wednesday was forecast to be the last day of record breakers, and Thursday was headed for a high of about 95.

On Wednesday and Thursday, there were about 10 spots along the south end of West Broadway Avenue marked by cones warning pedestrians: Heat had apparently expanded the pavement, causing it to rise and buckle.

One spot, the furthest south, next to the westbound on-ramp to Interstate 90, had several cones and a barricade with a sign stating the sidewalk was closed. The concrete sidewalk slabs there had tented-up to a height of 9 inches above grade.

Near the intersection with Yakima Avenue, the concrete sidewalk had buckled and risen 12 inches. Near the intersection with South Schneirla Street, a buckled portion had risen to a peak about 9 inches above grade.

The weather pattern – high pressure that’s pumping hot air up from the south – is common in the Columbia Basin in summer. But, “This one is just stronger than normal, with really hot temperatures aloft that we don’t normally see,” Nisbet said. “This has just been – abnormal.”

Air temperatures were still in the 90s at 5,000 feet, she said Wednesday.

“It’s still just so incredibly warm aloft,” she said. “It’s very unusual.”

The mean, nasty ridge of high pressure will start moving east early next week and will flatten out, meaning wind directions will change. Air – cooler air – will start flowing in from the west. But it will take a while.

“This is just a slow, gradual cooldown. And (temperatures) are still going to be above average,” Nisbet said.

Like the historical temperature data, average temperature data for Moses Lake is skimpy, but for Ephrata, the average temperature for the end of June is 85 degrees. Temperatures will continue to be about 15 degrees above normal even after the record-breaking heat ends, Nisbet said.

That means taking precautions out there, especially with the July 4 weekend straight ahead.

Water, and lots of it, is a good thing on a hot day. People should avoid beverages with caffeine, alcohol or lots of sugar.

Grant County Health District recommends staying indoors, preferably in air conditioning, when temperatures hit triple digits. If no air conditioning is available, people should stay on the ground floor and out of the sun. Windows that get full morning or afternoon sun should be covered with a shade or awning.

Pets, too, should have plenty of fresh water, and should have shade.

NCW Libraries says its branches in Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Okanogan and Ferry counties are official cooling centers for folks needing a break from the heat.

“Anyone who needs to escape the heat is invited to browse books and movies, read and relax, use public computers and connect to Wi-Fi — and stay as long as they need during the normal hours of operation at libraries,” said Michelle McNiel, spokesperson for NCW Libraries, in an email.

Really hot weather poses a danger to senior citizens and people who are ill or have health conditions. Family and friends should make arrangements to check on seniors or ill residents and friends. And seniors and people who are sick should make arrangements to be checked on.

The GCHD also shared symptoms of heat-related illnesses.

Heat exhaustion symptoms include cramps, dizziness and fainting, vomiting and clammy skin. People who might be suffering from heat exhaustion should move, or be moved, to a cool place. A cool wet cloth will help them cool down, and they should get a cool drink — but drink it slowly. If symptoms persist more than an hour, they should seek medical attention.

Heat stroke is an emergency, and the first step is to call 911 or go to a hospital emergency room. Among the symptoms of heat stroke are dry, red skin, headache and dizziness, nausea, confusion and fainting. People who might be suffering from heat exhaustion should be moved to a cool place immediately, and a cool cloth should be applied. But they shouldn’t be given anything to drink.