Seattle wakes up to sunny skies and a high near 83°F today, Tuesday, August 4, with areas of smoke expected to drift in after 2 PM — so if you’ve got outdoor plans, get them done before the haze settles over the Sound.
Today’s Setup
An offshore ridge is amplifying over the Pacific while a thermally driven surface trough builds along the coast, according to the National Weather Service Seattle office. That combination is turning our winds offshore, and it’s pulling smoke west from fires in eastern Washington. Expect north wind around 6 to 9 mph today, a mostly sunny sky, and that smoke settling in during the afternoon as the shallow inversion aloft breaks down. Overnight lows drop to a comfortable 57 under clear skies.
Best Window To Be Outside
Morning through early afternoon is your clearest stretch before the smoke arrives. A walk around Green Lake, a paddle at Alki Beach, or a hike through Discovery Park all work best before 2 PM. Wednesday brings a warmer 88°F with sun again, but patchy smoke returns after 1 PM, so the same early-day rule applies.
Smoke And Heat Risk
The NWS is flagging a two-to-three day stretch of Moderate (Orange) HeatRisk across the interior through Thursday, with a 20-30% chance of Major (Red) HeatRisk in south Puget Sound urban areas Wednesday and Thursday. If you’re sensitive to smoke, a N95 respirator mask smoke is worth keeping in the car, and it’s smart to check airnow.gov before spending long stretches outdoors. For anyone exercising in the heat, ventilated workout shorts men will help you stay cooler on afternoon runs.
What To Wear Or Bring
Sunscreen and shade matter today — a UPF 50+ Sun Hoodie deal is a smart, cheap way to cover up if you’re out on the water or the trail for hours.
Games And Shows This Week
Benson Boone: Wanted Man Tour hits Climate Pledge Arena tonight — grab tickets on SeatGeek and pair the show with a Benson Boone t-shirt or Benson Boone hoodie. Wednesday, the Seattle Mariners open a series against the Detroit Tigers at T-Mobile Park under sunny, warm skies before Wednesday’s smoke moves in — good tailgating weather if you get there early. Find tickets on StubHub and stock up on a Seattle Mariners jersey or Seattle Mariners fitted cap. Also Wednesday: the Meghan Trainor concert at Climate Pledge Arena, where a Meghan Trainor t-shirt makes a good souvenir.
Dinner Idea
Warm, dry evenings like tonight are made for the grill. If you want something more ambitious than the usual burgers, check out this smoked tri-tip guide for a $10 hack that turns out brisket-like results. 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 trip in the heat.
Next Few Days
Wednesday climbs to 88°F with patchy smoke returning in the afternoon, and Thursday should hold onto the heat and haze before the ridge and thermal trough weaken and shift east. Forecasters expect cooler, drier conditions to settle in by next weekend as a trough passes through.
