SPOKANE, Wash. — In our effort to bring you more to every story during this heat wave, KREM 2 News is looking back at the heat dome of 2021 that proved to be deadly.
But how does this current heat wave compare?
According to meteorologists at the National Weather Service, this heat wave isn't quite near the magnitude of what we experienced in 2021, but that doesn't mean we aren't still feeling the heat.
There are many ways to try to beat the heat, from playing in the water to getting a snow cone.
But miles away in Airway Heights, Rachael Fewkes and her fellow meteorologists at the National Weather Service are staying busy. Right now, they are tracking the current heat wave impacting the Pacific Northwest, leading to record-breaking temperatures.
"It's not just one or two days of 90 or 100 degrees. It's multiple days in a row of above normal temperatures," Fewkes, a NWS meteorologist, said.
But how does it compare to other heat waves?
Let's use the heat dome of 2021 as an example. The dome killed over a dozen people in the span of days, with many of them in areas considered to be heat islands in the city, including downtown Spokane.
Looking at the current weather system, it's not quite near the strength of what we experienced three years ago. "The ridge isn't quite as strong and therefore we're not seeing quite as high of temperatures," said Fewkes.
Fewkes said their office has noticed what appears to be an upward trend. "A lot of our record-setting heat waves as far as magnitude and duration have happened in the last five to 10 years," Fewkes said.
As for the rest of the summer, Fewkes said it's too soon to say if we will have another major heatwave like this one this summer. "It's certainly likely that we will see more above normal temperatures throughout the summer."
Now since we're still feeling the heat, Fewkes has some recommendations: drink plenty of water, avoid strenuous activity outside during the hottest parts of the day, seek out air-conditioned spaces, take breaks in the shade and check on those who are vulnerable to the heat, which includes the elderly, children and pets.
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