It’s not summer, but temps could reach mid-80s on Saturday

EVERETT — It seems the weather here has decided to skip the rest of spring.

For now, anyway.

Temperatures are expected to reach those of peak summer this weekend. Many places in Snohomish County could hit the mid-80s on Saturday.

“There will be some records broken probably in the next couple of days,” said Gary Schneider, a forecaster for the National Weather Service in Seattle.

It’ll likely cool down going into next week. The thermometer could drop by 10 degrees on Sunday, and there may be showers by Wednesday.

The normal temperature this time of year is below 60 degrees. Offshore winds are making it hotter than usual.

“Normally the winds come off the water to keep us cool, but it’s coming off the land from the east to warm us up,” Schneider said.

This won’t be the region’s first record-setting weather of the year.

February brought the most snow in one month in 50 years. In March, the area saw the warmest winter day since 1894. It reached 79 degrees.

“Every year we get a few warm spells,” Schneider said. “It’s not unusual in that sense.”

Snohomish County Volunteer Search and Rescue begins to get calls this time of year, said Heidi McKeon, vice president of the organization.

Folks want to get outside when it starts to get nice. It’s important to be prepared.

Mountain snow is beginning to melt. That makes rivers higher, faster and frigid.

“It’s going to be cold,” McKeon said. “It’s going to take your breath away. It can really shock your system.”

People could get swept under the water and tangled in tree branches and roots under the surface.

Going on hikes also could be dangerous. Many trails along the Mountain Loop Highway, for example, are still covered in snow.

Part of that road is closed to vehicles for the season between Deer and Bedal creeks. It’s still accessible by foot. It usually re-opens around this time each year.

McKeon recommends dressing in layers, wearing appropriate footwear, telling someone your plans and bringing hiking poles.

“If you put your pole out in front of you, it can give an idea of what you’re facing in the next footstep,” she said.

There could be ice on the surface, but nothing underneath.

Be aware of conditions. Call the local U.S. Forest Service ranger station, or view updates online through the Snoqualmie-Mount Baker National Forest or Washington Trails Association.

Stephanie Davey: 425-339-3192; sdavey@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @stephrdavey.