News & Stories

One day it's hot, the next it's not. Seattle braces for 24-hour heatwave

May 28, 2025 / 11:28 am

caption: Vasili Vouros, center, and John Cain Jr., right, slip n' slide with their kids in Vouros's front yard in Skyway.

Summer technically hasn't started yet — but apparently Mother Nature hasn't gotten the memo here in Seattle, as the region braces for the hottest day of the year so far.

The Seattle metropolitan area will see highs in the mid 80s Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. And parts of the Cascade foothills and valleys could be dealing with near 90-degree temperatures.

The mini heatwave is not expected to break any records — but it is unseasonably hot. Sea-Tac Airport's normal high for this date is just 68 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. That's 14 degrees lower than Wednesday's forecast high of 82 degrees at Sea-Tac.

The unusual heat could take a bite out of the state's mountain snowpack, which is already about one-third below normal levels statewide.

caption: Snowpack levels are far above normal in much of Washington as of May 27, 2025.

It's also prompting the King County Regional Homelessness Authority to open daytime cooling centers for people experiencing homelessness through Friday. Anyone looking for more information on shelters and navigating to them can call the Severe Weather Shelter Navigation Hotline at 206-245-1026.

All libraries in the King County Library System are also free and open for everyone to use as day shelters. More information about each location can be found on the KCLS website.

And don't worry: The heat will be gone before you know it. Temperatures are expected to return to normal Thursday, according to the National Weather Service, with a forecast high of 67 at Sea-Tac and a 70% chance of rain, mainly before 11 a.m.