SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. — As of this article being updated at 4 P.M. Tuesday, Spokane has hit a high temperature of 94 degrees. This is the hottest Spokane has been in 2020 so far.
There are 100 degrees temps in the lower Columbia Basin. Moses Lake is currently reporting 100 degrees. Observations near the Tri-Cities in southern Washington are as hot as 105.
With the temps so high, that drives relativity humidity down. Even with comfortable humidity levels (not Arizona dry-heat dry), relativity humidity is down to around 20% in Spokane, and in the teens in central Washington. A Red Flag Warning was issued for the Ellensburg area today as the winds coming off the cascades add to the fire danger in that region.
A very powerful jet stream ridge over the western U.S. coupled with a broad "heat dome" over the majority of the southern states is pushing temperatures into the 90s for nearly everyone in the Inland Northwest today and partially into Wednesday.
Spokane's daily record high for July 21 is 103°, so we'll fall well short of that. In fact, Between July 9 and August 5, the record is never below 100° in Spokane.
Today's heat is closer to par for the average hottest day of the year reading. In Spokane, that's 99°. Last year, 98° was the hottest day and in 2018 it was 103 degrees. So while 94 is hot, Spokane will still likely get close to 100 degrees at least once before July and August is through with us.
The high heat is a long time coming. Spokane just hit our first 90-degree day of the year last Thursday, July 16. That was tied for the eighth latest on record.
Wednesday will bring another bout of 90s across the board. Spokane will cool down a bit for the rest of the week, but more sunshine and highs in the mid-to-upper-80s are in the forecast by Thursday and into the weekend.
Wednesday night and Thursday morning will have a chance for scattered storms in central Idaho and near the Lewiston area.
Records and statistics aside, do make sure to be safe during the hotter days of the year. Drink plenty of water while outside and wear sunscreen. Check on any elderly neighbors in case their air conditioning goes out.
Be careful while walking pets outside, particularly on the pavement. With temps in the 90s and direct sunlight, asphalt temperatures can soar to more than 140°! If you wouldn't want to walk on that with your bare feet, your pets don't want to either.
