Get ready: Olympia area on track to experience warmest day of the year on Friday
The Olympia area will experience its warmest weather of the year amid a stretch of sunny days.
A high of about 85 degrees is forecast for Friday, according to the National Weather Service in Seattle.
Such a high temperature would mark the warmest weather of the year so far, per the NWS. The warmest it’s been in the Olympia area this month, prior to Thursday, was 69 degrees on May 2, making Friday’s weather a significant departure from recent days.
Olympia’s weather also is expected to be warmer than many other cities. The National Weather Service predicted Friday highs of 81 in Tacoma and 79 in Seattle.
Skies are expected to be clear through Saturday and mostly sunny on Sunday and Monday, according to the NWS. Following the high on Friday, temperatures will cool to 52 degrees Friday night before rising to 79 degrees Saturday.
The high for Sunday is expected to reach about 72 degrees with nighttime low of 48 degrees, per the forecast.
Though temperatures will be warm this weekend, the NWS warns waterways will still be cold. In a Thursday morning post on X, the NWS said some lakes and Puget Sound temperatures were still in the 50s.
High temperatures in spring and early summer cause snowmelts to increase, which can in turn cause rivers to run faster and colder compared to the latter part of the summer, per the NWS.
Body heat can drain up to 25 times faster in cold water than in cold air, the NWS warned in another post on X.
Cold water can shock the body and increase the risk of drowning. Signs of cold-water shock include involuntary gasping and rapid breathing, per the NWS.
As a precaution, the NWS advises people wear a life jacket in and around water and dress for water temperature rather than air temperature.
Warm weather also can herald an increased risk of wildfires. To improve the public’s preparedness for fires and other natural disasters, Thurston County launched an informational “Ready, Set, Go!” evacuation campaign Thursday.
The county advises residents to be prepare for a possible evacuation and keep tabs on local media and neighbors when a Level 1 “be ready” evacuation notice is issued.
At Level 2, residents should “be set” to evacuate at a moment’s notice, per the county. However, anyone with disabilities, medical conditions, small children or large animals are advised to evacuate at this level.
At Level 3, the county says all residents should “go now,” meaning evacuate immediately and not return home until authorities say it’s safe to return.
More information about emergency preparedness can be found at http://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/em.
