Heat Wave

You are not going to believe what is going to happen today. After weeks of far colder than normal weather, a veritable heat wave will begin today. But first consider where we have been (see graphic). Yesterday, was the first day in weeks with both sunshine and normal temperatures...but today we will enjoy temps far above normal...reaching 70F in some locations. We now have high pressure inland and a low offshore (graphic), such a situation produces offshore flow and moves down the western slopes of the Cascades. In fact,the profiler winds in Seattle shows strong southeasterly winds above us...and warm air aloft. An inversion near the surface is apparent (temps increasing with height near the surface)...but that will burn off quickly. With offshore flow the foothills areas are often the warmest, since they are front line to the air that has warmed as it sinks (compression by higher pressure increases temps). In fact, the temps this morning show this effect...look at the plot of temps...it is warmer in the foothills than near the Sound.
Anyway, today will be in the upper sixties to low 70s, tomorrow will be similar, and Tuesday should also be above normal. And did I say it would be dry during this period? A transition to cooler temps are in store for Thursday...with some rain.

ps: I will be talking about north Sound weather at the Everett Public library (downtown everett) today at 2 PM...