SEATTLE — As temperatures climbed Saturday, reaching the 80s and 90s across the Pacific Northwest, many people got out and found a way to beat the heat, but it is expected to get hotter on Sunday.
According to KIRO 7 Meteorologist Claire Anderson, many areas will see temperatures in the upper 90s on Sunday.
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A developing ridge of high pressure will be the weather maker over the weekend. What that means for us is that temperatures will soar Sunday, fire danger will increase and even the beaches will be warm for those seeking relief.
A Red Flag Warning is in effect for Saturday into Sunday for high fire danger near the Cascades (due to dry, downsloping wind) and in the south Sound and points farther south because it’s going to be very warm and relative humidity will be low.
An Excessive Heat Warning is in effect for Sunday in the Cascade foothills, as well as a Heat Advisory for most of the Sound.
The hottest areas in western Washington will be south and away from the water.
And as many make plans to get outside, firefighters worry that people could get careless about things like campfires, which can lead to disaster.
For example, small brush fires have popped up and there is concern the worst is yet to come.
“We can have extreme fire danger from very small events turn into very large events rather quickly,” said Battalion Chief Brian Hyatt, from Snohomish County Fire District 7.
“We have light brush and grass that grows back every year, so we get a large fire that burns through an area and most of that stuff is going to grow back in one or two seasons and be ready again,” Hyatt said.
When you combine that with temperatures in the 90s and humidity levels at 15%, it causes firefighters to be on high alert.
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources said there are several wildfires already burning across the state.
And with the low humidity and high temperatures, officials worry more fires will pop up.
A few years ago, KIRO 7′s Gary Horcher spoke to a woman who made her own air-conditioning unit for under $20 by using a foam cooler, fan and ice block.