EVERETT — The fans are coming out for the season a bit earlier than usual this year.
The National Weather Service in Seattle is predicting above-average temperatures in Western Washington this week.
NWS Meteorologist Johnny Burg said the forecast is calling for temperatures to reach 79 degrees at Paine Field on Thursday. Some areas nearby may see 80 degrees.
Burg said locations further from the water are expected to see slightly warmer weather than in Everett.
Temperatures reaching 80 degrees in early May are warmer than average for the area. Everett usually has its first 80-degree day in mid-June.
“This would be a bit earlier than usual but it’s not unheard of,” Burg said.
The city’s earliest 80-degree day on record was April 3, 1992. Everett saw its first 80-degree day of the year April 12 in 1940, and on May 10 in 1931.
This week’s warmer than average temperatures come from high pressure over Western Washington. Winds coming from the east are expected to bring sunny skies and warmer weather.
The forecast calls for a high of 73 degrees today and 78 degrees Wednesday.
Thursday is predicted to be the warmest day this week with a high of 79 degrees before temperatures start to fall.
Local businesses are preparing for the heat.
Darlene Scott, owner of Carr’s Hardware in Marysville, said she already has fans out.
“When that weather gets warm, we’ve got them,” she said. “We might sell out.”
Scott said rising temperatures often bring a rush of people buying fans. Occasionally, she has trouble restocking because the big box stores buy from the same wholesale vendors.
Shari Ireton, a spokeswoman for the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, said when the weather changes, people need to be aware of safety concerns.
Ireton warns against leaving children and pets unattended in vehicles, where temperatures can quickly rise to deadly levels.
In homes and buildings, people should make sure window screens are secure to prevent children and others from falls.
Children should always be supervised by an adult while playing around water. Despite the warmer weather, area lake and coastal water temperatures remain cold, typically in the range of 55 to 60 degrees. Because the human body can cool down 25 times faster in cold water than air, hypothermia is a risk.
People should also be educated on swimming and boating safety before hitting the water. Every year, people drown in Snohomish County. Paying attention, wearing a life jacket and knowing the rules can help prevent problems.
Snohomish County boasts more than 10,000 acres of park land, 105 parks, and hundreds of miles of trails. When weather warms, there’s usually an increase in reported car prowls and thefts at trailheads and parks.
To prevent these problems, people should not leave valuables visible inside parked cars. They should lock the doors, roll the windows up and report any suspicious activity.
The warmer spell isn’t expected to last long.
The weather service predicts marine air to bring moderate temperatures later in the week. On Friday, the forecasted high is 70 degrees. Meteorologists predict the weekend weather to go back to average, with temperatures in the upper 50s or lower 60s.
Amy Nile: 425-339-3192; anile@heraldnet.com.
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