80-degree heat wave incoming for Puget Sound this weekend

The sun will be out this weekend, even if we aren’t allowed to gather with friends at the beach.

Temperatures in the coming days are expected to be in the 80s throughout King County. Some parks opened Tuesday, but officials reminded people to stay away from one another to limit the spread of coronavirus.

Thursday’s temperatures were in the mid-60s. On Friday, the high is expected to be 78 degrees in Seattle. Temperatures this weekend may break some records and are expected to hover in the low 80s.

Parts of the county farther from the Puget Sound may be even warmer, National Weather Service Meteorologist Jacob DeFlitch said.

Winds coming from the Cascade Range are expected to blow the dry, warm weather west.

“That will help kick the temperatures up a pretty drastic amount,” DeFlitch said.

This weekend may be the hottest days of the year so far, he said. Rain is anticipated Monday evening, but temperatures are expected to stay in the 70s.

With the hot and dry weather this weekend, the Department of Natural Resources asks people to be careful not to spark a fire, and to not burn any debris for the next few days.

So far, the department has responded to 230 wildfires this year, with an estimated 120 caused by people burning debris. Anyone who spots a wildfire should call 911 right away.

“I urge all residents to keep an eye on their burn piles at all times and avoid using equipment that could spark a wildfire, such as a chainsaw,” Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz said in a statement. “It takes all of us to prevent forest fires.”