Grab the blankets and sweatshirts, Seattle, it’s … July?
Really?
Although the calendar indicates we’re well into the seventh month of the year, Mother Nature appears bent on making us feel otherwise, as weather more befitting of spring or fall—heck, even winter at times—continues to rule the roost.
Cloudy, damp weather has more or less been the norm in the region since mid-May, although it hasn’t always been cool—up until now, that is. Ever since June wrapped up on a slightly warmer-than-normal note (thanks to a stretch in the 80s right after the solstice), summerlike temperatures have been nowhere to be found in Seattle. Case-in-point: July is off to its coldest start in Seattle in 15 years.
What’s been warmer: Inside or outside? Do you really want to know?
The city’s average temperature (high temperature plus low temperature, divided by two) through the first eight days of the month stands at a chilly 62.5 degrees—roughly 2 degrees below normal for early July. Although that may not seem like that dramatic of a difference, most of our recent summers have ranged from fairly warm to downright blazing hot (I’m looking at you, 2013, 2014, 2015 … 2017 … and 2018), making the cooldown feel more much noticeable than it otherwise would.
In addition, the average high temperature for July—arguably what we notice the most, since it occurs during the waking hours—is currently running 4 degrees below normal, at a paltry 70 degrees. This, of course, is the very definition of room temperature. In other words, it’s been just as warm indoors as outdoors this month—in the heart of summer. Chew on that for a sec!
Will summer get its act together?
So, on to the big question—will Seattle ever warm up this summer? Or should you keep that sweatshirt handy, even in August?
A stretch of warmer, above-average weather is probably inevitable, especially as we head into late July and early August—typically our warmest time of the year. It would be very strange to not have a handful of additional 80-degree days under our belts by mid-August. After all, even Seattle’s coolest summers had experienced a smattering of warm days by then. But as for the likelihood of hot weather, i.e., multiple days with temperatures reaching 90 or above?
The odds are not in our favor. Of the last five years that logged colder starts to July than this one (1993, 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2005), three failed to hit 90 degrees the entire year. Only 1993 (once) and 2002 (twice—including once in June) reached the 90-degree threshold. (Note that an average Seattle summer sees three days in the 90s, although recent ones have seen many, many more.)
In addition, La Niña-like conditions are possible by this fall—and Seattle summers that feature a developing Niña tend to run on the cool side.
Side note: 1993 was Seattle’s infamous summer of green tomatoes. For those of you who don’t want to know how un-summerlike July can be around here, it’s best not to google that one. Or 1954, for that matter.
No big warmth in sight
The screaming message? While nothing in the next week suggests an extended period of sun and warmth, our climate’s history does suggest we’ll be treated to such a stretch by the end of the month. And, perhaps more importantly, rain should be sparse no matter what.
But if you’re hoping for heat this summer, you probably won’t find it in Seattle.
