Seattle is looking at a bright, warm Monday with partly sunny skies and a high near 81°F, making this the kind of afternoon to get outside before the week’s real heat arrives.
Today’s Setup
The National Weather Service says a thermally induced surface trough is bouncing between the coast and the interior today, which is a fancy way of saying our onshore breeze off Puget Sound will keep things comfortable even as the sun climbs. Winds stay light out of the north around 7 mph, and overnight lows only dip to near 57 before creeping back up toward 59 by morning.
Best Window To Be Outside
Late morning through mid-afternoon is your sweet spot today, before any high clouds thicken up. Forecasters note some smoke aloft mixing with high clouds could make for a colorful sunrise, but skies clear enough for solid Mt. Rainier and Olympic Mountains views from spots like Kerry Park or Alki Beach. Green Lake and Gas Works Park are both good bets for a lunchtime walk or a paddle before the warmup peaks midweek.
Warming Trend Through Wednesday
An upper-level ridge is building in and holding through Wednesday, with the NWS forecasting highs jumping to near 88°F Tuesday and into the mid-90s inland by Wednesday. No rain is in the picture through midweek, but that changes late Wednesday night into Thursday as the remnants of tropical storm Elida bring a chance of showers, with cooler, more seasonable onshore flow returning Friday into the weekend.
Gameday & Event Weather
It’s a big sports week around town. The Seattle Storm host the Minnesota Lynx tonight at Climate Pledge Arena, and the Seattle Mariners open a series against the Cincinnati Reds at T-Mobile Park on July 21, with two more games July 22 — all under that same warm, dry pattern, so tailgating conditions outside T-Mobile Park should be comfortable in the low-to-mid 80s. Grab a Seattle Mariners jersey or Seattle Mariners fitted cap before first pitch, and if you’re chasing seats, tickets on SeatGeek are worth checking for any of these games. Music fans should also watch for Chris Stapleton’s All-American Road Show at the Gorge Amphitheatre on July 25 — a Chris Stapleton hat makes a fun addition if you’re heading over the mountains for that one.
What To Wear Or Bring
Light layers work for the cooler morning hours, but plan for real warmth by afternoon. If you’re running the Burke-Gilman Trail or hitting the water, a hydration running vest is a smart add as temperatures climb toward Tuesday’s high near 88°F. With kids out of school, this stretch of dry, warm days is also ideal for setting up an outdoor playhouse for kids in the backyard.
Tonight’s Dinner
With warm evenings ahead, a light pasta toss or a quick stir-fry cooked outside keeps the kitchen cool — either works well for tonight. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door; Amazon Fresh groceries makes it easy to skip the store run on a nice evening.
Next Few Days
Expect the warming trend to continue Tuesday and Wednesday before a pattern shift brings shower chances late Wednesday night into Thursday, followed by cooler, more typical Puget Sound weather for the weekend. For more on how to plan around the heat, check out outdoor gear deals or our tri-tip smoking guide for an easy warm-weather dinner option later this week.
