Heat

95% of the time, weather in Seattle moves from west to east: temperate air from the ocean means moderate temps. When that air is moist and gets stuck up against the mountains, it's cloudy and rainy. This weather is called on "onshore flow."

But a few times per year - and usually once or twice during August - we experience an "offshore flow" and air is borne over the mountains on a east-to-west wind. East of the mountains is basically a desert, so this air is hot, dry, and dusty. Now is one of those times.

The last few days it's been 90 degrees, which is very unusual in Seattle. Remember, almost nobody here has air conditioning - including many restaurants. In order to get a brief respite we (and everyone else, apparently) went to the beach to cool off in Sound's 57 degree water. We didn't take any pictures, so you'll have to take my word for how nice it was.