SEATTLE -- 90 on Thursday. 90 on Friday. Should we do it again?

Day 2 of our August heat wave is done, and it looked a whole lot like the first day with temperatures around 90 degrees. Seattle hit 90 both days -- a record on Thursday (88), but falling short on Friday (92).

Here is the list of high temperatures (first number is Thursday, second is Friday)
·    Vancouver (WA): 102 / 101
·    Portland : 102 / 100
·    Kelso: 97 / 93
·    Shelton: 94 / 95
·    Olympia: 91 / 91
·    Seattle: 90 / 90
·    Bellevue: 89 / N/A
·    Tacoma: 89 / 92
·    Bremerton: 88 / 90
·    Arlington: 86 / 90
·    Friday Harbor: 84 / 83
·    Port Angeles: 83 / 78
·    Everett: 83 / 86
·    Forks: 82 / 74
·    Bellingham: 80 / 85
·    Hoquiam: 80 / 71

Some thunderstorms developed off the coast in some unstable air Friday, and the clouds from that system kept a lid on temperatures a bit around Western Washington, knocking us off the pace for mid 90s.

Saturday will be yet another day in the atmospheric oven, as the thermal trough moves over the I-5 corridor. This is typically the hottest day of a heat wave in the interior, so highs might even creep into the mid 90s in Seattle, and we could see close to triple digits in the foothills and from Olympia south.

The coast, however, will be a different story as they will start getting the cool, ocean breeze and drop into the 60s and 70s.

Smog Watch Remains In Effect

With the heat comes the month's second Smog Watch, issued by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. This is expected to remain in effect until noon Sunday.

The agency says ozone pollution levels are expected to rise to unhealthy levels -- especially south and southeast of the core urban areas of Seattle, Tacoma and Everett, where air quality is expected to decline to "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups."

The Department of Health reminds people with asthma and parents of children with asthma to limit outdoor activities during hazy, sunny, hot weather when ozone levels are high. Adults with lung and cardiovascular diseases (heart disease and stroke) should also be mindful of poor air quality.

With a new, more stringent air quality standard for ozone, it will be difficult for our region to stay in compliance with the federal standard, the agency said.

The Clean Air Agency suggests the following actions you can take to help spare the air:
·    Carpool or ride the bus to work, events and outings.
·    If you must drive, use your most fuel-efficient car and combine errands into one trip.
·    If you must refuel, do it in the evening hours, don't top off the tank and make sure your gas cap clicks tightly closed.
·    Skip gasoline-powered yard work and gas-fueled recreation.
·    Avoid using household products that contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Look for low- or no-VOC paints and water-based solvents, instead.
·    Use an electric starter or charcoal chimney to start your barbecue (there's no need to ever use lighter fluid). Even better, use only a gas grill or opt for a non-grill picnic.

Other Typical Heat Reminders

You all know the typical advice: Drink plenty of water, don't overexert yourself outside during the peak heating, don't leave pets or kids in cars -- even for a few minutes as temperatures can rise in a car to well over 140 degrees. Also, it's good to check up on the elderly.

But another one that usually goes ignored: Don't forget the sunscreen! It'll only take a few
minutes to start getting sunburned in this pattern.

(Oh, and don't run with scissors :) )

Statistical Fun

It looks like Seattle is going to go over quota for number of 90 degree days this year. Typically, we average two, but we've already had three with potentially three more coming up here.

On average, Seattle gets 25 days a year that are 80 or warmer, of those 10 average 85 or warmer and 2 go 90 or better. And every-other year, we get a 95.

This year, as of Friday, Seattle is at 26 days at 80 or warmer, 9 at 85 or more and 5 days at 90 or warmer. We did hit 98 last year, so we're not due another one this year, but it's possible Friday and/or Saturday could get to 95.

Someone else asked what is the record for most days over 90 in a year. That is 9 set in 1958. Arguably the worst heat wave in Seattle was in August of 1981, when we had 5 days in a row over 90 -- a stretch of 91, 93, 99, 98 and 93.

Although you could make a case for 1977, which between August 1st and August 17th, had 13 of those days at 85 or warmer, and 6 of those days over 90, including what was then a record four day stretch over 90 of 90, 93, 93, and 95, followed four days later by a 93 and 95 degree day. Yuck!

(Incidentally, once that heat wave broke, the rest of the month was very cool and rainy and they actually ended up with the third wettest August on record.)

Other heat waves of note: July 21-24 in 2006 we went 97, 96, 95 and then 92. On July 20, 1994, we hit the all time record high of 100 degrees, then went 93 the next two days.

Cooling Comes Sunday

We start the cooling process a bit for Sunday as the air mass cools and we get a tiny trickle of marine air. That should at least knock high temperatures within a few degrees either side of 80 -- pretty pleasant by most standards.

Long range forecasts suggest a more typical pattern of morning clouds and then afternoon sun Monday as the marine flow builds to about average strength. That would feature highs in the mid 70s and a lot more smiles around town.

Cool weather fans then might get their due the middle of next week, as forecasting models hint at a front moving through bringing a chance of rain for Tuesday into Wednesday and highs only in the 60s.