‘Very abnormal’ heat expected for Tacoma early this week. Learn how to stay cool
Brace yourself, Tacoma: Monday was a hot one and Tuesday could be hotter.
Western Washington is getting rocked by record-high heat this week. Multiple daily records were smashed on Sunday, the National Weather Service’s Seattle office wrote on X (Twitter). The post cited that day’s 93-degree-high at SeaTac, which was three degrees warmer than the previous record set in 2010.
Tacoma will keep getting hit by toasty temps this week. A heat advisory is in place until 10 p.m. Tuesday.
“We are expecting both today, Monday, and Tuesday to be the warmest two days of this stretch, and high temperatures will top out in the mid- to upper-90s,” NWS Seattle meteorologist Matthew Cullen told The News Tribune. “We’re forecasting around 95 in Tacoma today, and about 97 on Tuesday.”
For perspective, the typical temperature at nearby SeaTac is around 76 during this time — a difference of about 20 degrees, he added: “That’s certainly very abnormal.”
Cullen advises Tacoma residents to drink plenty of water and, if possible, to take advantage of air conditioning. Check on loved ones and neighbors. You could always head to a public library or shopping mall — someplace with AC — to cool down.
“Even an hour or two cooling throughout the day, that really does make a difference because this heat does accumulate throughout the stretch of very hot weather,” he said.
City of Tacoma’s response to the heat
To help beat the heat, the city has opened cooling centers and is providing residents experiencing homeless water access, according to a news release. Shelter capacity is expanded during 90-plus degree weather, and encampment removals are paused.
Additional shelter beds are available at these locations:
Beacon Young Adult Shelter (415 S. 13th St.) for unhoused people ages 18 to 24: 20 more beds.
Catholic Community Services’ Nativity House (702 S. 14th St.) for people experiencing homelessness ages 18 and older: 80 more beds.
During normal operating hours, public libraries in Tacoma can serve as cooling centers, according to the city’s news release. Other cooling locations are offered throughout the county.
Pierce County YMCAs, for instance, can be accessed as cooling centers Sunday through Tuesday when the heat exceeds 90 degrees, per a webpage by the Tacoma Pierce County Coalition to End Homelessness.
Pierce Transit giving free rides
Pierce Transit is giving passengers free rides to shelters and cooling centers through Tuesday, according to a news release. The timeline could get extended if the heat persists.
The transit system has partnered with Pierce County Department of Emergency Management on the move.
Round-trip bus and SHUTTLE rides will be offered to folks who notify the driver that they are going to or from a shelter or cooling center, according to the news release.
See more tips for beating the heat and locations for cooling centers by visiting PierceCountyWa.gov/6226/Hot-Weather-Information.
Free admission to state history museum
The air conditioned Washington State History Museum in downtown Tacoma is offering free admission Tuesday. Stay cool while learning how Washington’s past affects its present.
The museum, located at 1911 Pacific Ave., features temporary and permanent exhibitions about the state’s history. It’s open 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
This story was originally published July 8, 2024 at 12:33 PM.
