As his friends chat on the bank, Kamoni Taylor, 22, of Centralia, jumps into the Chehalis River with his dog, Bentley, 3, on Monday afternoon off of Highway 603 in Adna.
A record-setting heat wave threatened to bring withering Washingtonians to their knees last weekend, but officials say the worst of the solar onslaught has now passed.
The escalating series of hot days culminated with a new official daily record of 97 degrees at the Olympia airport on Sunday. Other unofficial weather stations in the area reported mercury spiking at least that high.
The Icarus-like rise toward the Sunday record highs began on Friday with temperatures in the mid-80s around the area. By Saturday, the temperature reached into the upper-80s in most parts of the region, and of course Sunday was hot enough to make wax melt.
Johnny Burg, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Seattle, noted that a gauge at the Chehalis-Centralia Airport on Sunday recorded a high of 97 degrees as well, while a remote automatic weather station set up south of Chehalis and a gauge in Rochester both notched highs of 98 degrees that day.
“It looks like it was the upper 90s all along the I-5 corridor in that area,” said Burg of the record-setting Sunday stifler.
The high heat hung around well into Monday, but by about 6 p.m., the hot spell had broken and a cool breeze made the evening air taste like fresh spring water. According to Burg, that trend will continue throughout the week. Monday’s high temperature of about 88 degrees around the area was predicted by the National Weather Service to turn to 80 degrees on Tuesday and 71 on Wednesday before dipping into the mid-60s for the weekend.
“It’s going to become more clouds and a small chance of showers by Thursday with highs around the 60s,” specified Burg. “If you like hot and sunny weather I guess you better enjoy today.”
Those depressed temperatures are not likely to last long though, as forecasts call for above normal temperatures across most of Washington for the next three months.
“It looks to be pretty warm this summer,” said Burg.
Beating the Heat
Along with the heat wave came a renewed round of warnings from officials telling people to refrain from leaving dogs and other pets inside of a vehicle. Officials have noted that even with windows cracked and water available temperatures inside a car can rise above safe limits in just minutes.
Fido hasn’t been the only one panting in the heat as of late though. Plenty of reprieve-seeking locals headed for their favorite place to take a dip and cool off while the sun was up to its fever blistering tricks.
Out at the old Adna trestle along the upper Chehalis River swarms of overheating folks flocked to coolness of the current like ducks to, well, water. Many even brought their dogs along for the occasion.
Ruger, a 3-year-old black Lab/German shorthair mix, was one of the stars of the doggy paddle show on Monday, eagerly chasing a tennis ball against the current and shaking off from head to paw in order to splatter onlookers with equal gusto.
Kristin Hickey, of Napavine, Ruger’s owner, said she had to take extra precautions with her 3-year-old dog. “He’s definitely not been outside, that’s for sure,” said Hickey. “That’s why I said, ‘I’ve got the day off so we’re getting him to some water.’”
Mitchell McConkey, of Olympia, was keeping Ruger and Hickey company on Monday afternoon at the Adna Trestle cove, but his real adventures with the heat came on Sunday when he spent about six hours of his afternoon rafting the Wynoochee River with a floating caravan of friends. On Monday though, McConkey revealed that he had paid quite a price for his leisurely float down the winding lazy man’s river. Namely, his torso and legs were covered in sunburns.
“That’s why I’m wearing pants at midday,” explained McConkey. “I’m trying to stay covered.”
McConkey added, “Surprisingly the water wasn't as cold as you’d think for this time of year.” He also noted the above average flow and depth of the river.
The Chehalis River is in a very similar condition at the moment.
A small crowd of young waterbugs noted on Monday that the late spring water has lost its typically shocking coldness. Hickey referred to the Chehalis River temperature as “relaxing.”
The Adna trestle cover is a popular gateway for those seeking to beat the heat. Those who came back for a little more rest and relaxation on Monday said the riverside beach was jampacked on Sunday with an estimated 60 people on hand.
As the temperatures slowly began to wane, so too did the crowd at the Adna trestle. “It’s hit or miss,” explained Matthew Bird, of Chehalis, who was busy leaping off of rock walls into the uncrowded river Monday afternoon. “If it’s in the 90s it’s going to be full of all of Chehalis and whatnot.”
