High temps expected this week

MOSES LAKE — It’s to be expected, being the height of summer and all that, and it’s here. Temperatures will be flirting with the 100-degree mark for a few days this week, although smoke drifting in from fires to the north may keep them below triple digits.

“We do have some fires in Canada - they’ve been going about two months,” said Krista Carrothers, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Spokane which serves much of Eastern Washington.

Winds will be blowing out of the north the next few days, which will push the smoke south. The resulting smoky haze may lower temperatures a degree or two, she said.

Thursday temperatures are forecast for 99 degrees in Moses Lake, Ephrata and Mattawa, 98 degrees in Othello and 97 degrees in Quincy. Temperatures are forecast to drop a very little bit by Saturday, all the way down to about 96 degrees in Moses Lake.

The culprit for the near-triple digits is the normal one, Carrothers said, a high-pressure ridge over the region. But it isn’t the typical high-pressure ridge.

“The way we’ve been describing it is a flat ridge,” she said.

That configuration means it’s a lot easier for other weather systems coming through to influence it, and thus push temperatures down, than the more typical pressure configurations, she said. The lack of other weather systems means temperatures will stay above normal for a few days.

It’s already fire weather - the fires in Canada making it clear that fire season has been here for a while - and this week’s hot dry weather will increase fire danger.

“Our humidity is going to be down in the teens,” Carrothers said.

While the nation’s birthday was yesterday, people may still be setting off fireworks, since they’re legal in some jurisdictions, including unincorporated areas of Grant County, through 11 p.m. tonight. Caution is recommended when setting them off, according to information from the Washington State Patrol.

A water supply and bucket of water should always be available, the WSP website said. Only one firework should be lit at a time. Fireworks that have been discharged should sit for at least 20 minutes and then be submerged in water for at least 10 minutes before throwing them away.

The danger from the heat in central Washington is rated by the NWS as “moderate,” meaning it’s most likely to affect people already sensitive to the heat. The Washington Department of Health said in a press release there are some precautions people can take to avoid heat-related problems as summer temperatures rise.

Just like in winter, people should dress for the weather. In summer that means light breathable clothing, a wide-brim hat and sunscreen. People should stay in the shade, and schedule strenuous activities for early morning or evening after temperatures drop.

People should drink plenty of non-alcoholic liquids and keep homes cool. It helps to close windows in the morning and draw the blinds, and use fans to keep the air moving. People who are having trouble in the heat, and who can’t cool down their dwellings sufficiently, should go to a cooling center.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.