I’m not a native Northwesterner (though I’ve been here since ‘87 and graduated from UW, so I have some credentials), but one of my native-born friends told me this past weekend that she doesn’t remember it exceeding 70 degrees in her childhood. As much as I’d like to feel that this heat is a “freak occurrence,” these sweltering summers seem to be trending up. Per Nicholas Deshais in a recent Seattle Times article, we’ve had the “second-warmest start to July since 1945,” and the July 9 high of 98 degrees was the highest we’ve seen since 2021’s stunning 108.
Likely due to these temperatures, Washington State Parks has imposed a burn ban through the end of September (so no more campfire s’mores), and KIRO’s Ted Buehner said on MyNorthwest.com that our recent heat wave “essentially kicked the (wildfire) season into high gear.”
All of this has given me a lot to think about, weatherwise, so I decided to ponder the heat for this month’s column.
FEEL, FEEL, FEEL THE HEAT
We’re all feeling the heat these days, one way or another. And Seattleites aren’t typically air conditioner users (just 53% of Puget Sound homes had AC in 2021, per that year’s census). While some muster through with fans, others make do with in-window AC boxes — and I adore my portable, wheelable AC unit (since it doesn’t require weightlifter arms to maneuver). But plug-in AC isn’t affordable or practical for everyone, and these rarely cool all the needed rooms in your house. People have needed to get inventive in these unexpected times.
I asked one neighbor how she was keeping cool, and she told me she was getting creative with opening and closing windows and doors as the temperature changes. Closing blinds and curtains during the day can conserve some of the cooling your home gets during our fortunately balmy Northwest nights.
Reddit to the rescue with one particular new-to-me beat-the-heat solution — cooling neck rings. Available on Amazon, these personal cooling devices can travel with you; they cool in the freezer and are worn like a bolo tie. (In a pinch, a damp washcloth on the back of your neck will cool you off in a jiffy — I tried this tip on a rafting trip and it works as advertised.) Cooling vests are also sold online, either evaporative types (which are activated with tap water; these can also be found for dogs and cats) or full-on “ice vests” complete with pockets for ice packs.
Also popular but requiring some effort — do-it-yourself AC units. Look to the internet for various solutions, which include a “5-gallon bucket” method, repurposed plastic soda bottles and drink coolers, a more complicated “copper coil and fan” method, and the simplest — running a fan next to a bowl of ice cubes.
Lastly, don’t forget the old standby: a refreshing shower. Showering can lower your temperature quickly (and improve your mood, besides).
WE DIDN’T START THE FIRE
Hot and dry weather raises wildfire risk, and many of us have now experienced a smoky Seattle. Most weather apps have an air quality feature to indicate whether wildfire smoke is a potential health risk. The free AirNow app from the U.S. EPA has an excellent air quality monitor, including forecasts for the week ahead and an interactive fire and smoke map. Our air quality as I write this column in mid-July is 50 AQI (Good), and the app predicts “possible wildfire smoke overhead mid-week, but no ground level impacts expected.” Well, that’s a relief!
AQI — the standard EPA designation for air quality — runs from 0 to 500, with lower numbers being healthier. Per the EPA’s website (AirNow.gov), an AQI of 301 and higher is Hazardous, which means “emergency conditions” where everyone is likely to be affected. Let’s hope we don’t ever see that one!
The AirNow.gov website shows the same info as the app, as well as other tips on reducing your exposure to smoke. Although not a huge concern right now, wildfire smoke can be quite dangerous to some vulnerable populations and is worth learning more about.
WHO LET THE DOGS OUT?
Our pets find this heat uncomfortable, too. At a street fair I attended recently, a few dogs were clearly not enjoying the sun as much as their owners were. Please keep dogs out of the direct sun in hotter weather; dogs on leashes can’t find their own shade (some dogs even sunburn). Per the Humane Society’s website, you should “limit exercise to early mornings or evening hours” on very hot days, and be especially careful with short-nosed pooches, who can have trouble breathing in the heat.
Dog paws are particularly vulnerable to hot sidewalks and streets (stay on the grass, if you can). The American Kennel Club website says to be alert when temperatures exceed 85 degrees, with the AKC’s chief vet recommending that you “place your hand comfortably on the pavement for 10 seconds” to gauge if it will be comfortable for your dog to walk on.
And, of course, per the Humane Society, don’t ever leave your pets in a parked car in hot weather, even with the car running and AC on.
ROLLING WITH THE HEAT
One final resource I learned about while researching: 211, a number you can call to get help finding community resources of all kinds near you, like cooling centers to visit to stay out of the extreme heat. (Naturally, there’s a website, too: go to WA211.org to learn more.)
Lately, I’ve been thinking about the people in Houston, who’ve been suffering the triple-whammy of a hurricane followed by an extended power outage during a heat wave. Millions lost power for days, and at least six people have died so far from heat-related causes. We haven’t had that kind of heat emergency in recent years, but it doesn’t mean we won’t. Whether the emergency is heat, an earthquake, an ice storm, or another unplanned-for disaster, it’s never a bad idea to start preparing.
Preparing can mean amassing emergency supplies (water, water, water!), creating a family disaster plan, knowing how to turn off your home’s water and gas, and learning the location of your Emergency Communications Hub (regular column readers will know it will be by the Madison Park tennis courts). And, last but not least, getting to know your neighbors so that you can check on and help each other if disaster strikes.
Want to learn more about emergency preparedness and have a chance to share what you know with others? The Madison Park Emergency Hub is looking for regular and occasional volunteers; sign up for our mailing list by emailing madparkhub@gmail.com. And please save the date for our Sept. 22 emergency drill in the park — we’ll be practicing different ways to help neighbors and each other in an emergency. Stay safe out there!
Dana Armstrong is a Madison Park Emergency Hub volunteer.