WEEKEND FORECAST: Temperatures Expected To Reach Upper 80s, Possibly 90s

Western Washington, including Gig Harbor, is expected to experience some of the warmest temperatures of the year this weekend.

The National Weather Service issued a special weather statement today:

TEMPERATURES WILL CLIMB WELL INTO THE 80S ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA ON SATURDAY...WITH HIGHS IN THE LOWER TO MID 90S LIKELY ALONG THE I-5 CORRIDOR SOUTH OF OLYMPIA AND IN THE CENTRAL CASCADE VALLEYS. THE COAST WILL EXPERIENCE TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER 70S TO MID 80S...WITH FARTHER INLAND SITES CLIMBING TO NEAR 90. THE HOT SPELL WILL BE CAUSED BY THE COMBINATION OF HIGH PRESSURE ALOFT AND LOW LEVEL OFFSHORE FLOW.

ONSHORE FLOW WILL RETURN ON SUNDAY. THE COAST WILL BE 10 TO 15 DEGREES COOLER ON SUNDAY OR IN THE UPPER 60S TO UPPER 70S. IN CONTRAST...THE INTERIOR WILL LIKELY BE A COUPLE OF DEGREES WARMER. THIS WILL PUT MAX TEMPERATURE RECORDS IN JEOPARDY OF BEING BROKEN OR TIED AT SOME PLACES. THE FORECAST HIGH FOR SEATTLE FOR SUNDAY... THE 5TH...IS 90 DEGREES. THE RECORD FOR THE 5TH IS 89 DEGREES.

THE WARMEST DAY OVER THE INTERIOR OFTEN ENDS UP ON THE DAY WHEN THE LOW LEVEL FLOW TRANSITIONS FROM OFFSHORE TO ONSHORE. DAYTIME TEMPERATURES WILL RETURN TO NEAR NORMAL ON MONDAY.

The NWS advises people and pets to limit time in the sun and stay hydrated.

Here's the forecast for Gig Harbor, according to the NWS:

• Tonight: Clear, with a low around 55. North northeast wind 8 to 11 mph.

• Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 86. North northeast wind 6 to 9 mph.

• Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56. North northeast wind 6 to 8 mph.

• Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Northeast wind 5 to 7 mph.

• Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. Calm wind becoming west southwest 5 to 7 mph after midnight.

• Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.

• Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57.