Blog Article
Perfect Thursday Weather in the Pacific Northwest & West Coast
The Pacific Northwest is gearing up for a Perfect weather day on Thursday. Plus, we are tracking a Beautiful stretch for California and the Southwest.
Planning for a Perfect Thursday in the Pacific Northwest
Hey y'all. We have spent a lot of time this week tracking severe weather and heavy rain across the middle of the country. If you are in the Central Plains or Midwest, keep your guard up today as that system continues moving east. But if you are looking for a break from the storms, the western half of the country is putting on a clinic this week.
Let's look at where the weather is actually cooperating and how you can take advantage of it. For the full interactive map, check out our Nice Weather outlook page.
A Flawless Thursday for the Pacific Northwest
If you live in Washington or Oregon, Thursday is your day to call in sick. We do not use the "Perfect" category lightly, but Seattle, Portland, and the Tri-Cities are hitting it on Day 3 (May 21).
Seattle is sitting at a massive 91.2 out of 100 on our comfort scale for Thursday. We are looking at highs in the upper 70s to low 80s along the I-5 corridor, absolutely zero chance of rain, and crisp dewpoints in the upper 40s. It is going to feel incredible outside. If you are heading out to see the White Sox play the Mariners, you could not ask for a better evening at the ballpark.
Just keep in mind that the UV index will be sitting around 7.3, so if you are hiking or sitting on a patio, you will definitely need sunscreen.
California and the Southwest Stay Beautiful
Down the coast, California and the Desert Southwest are locked into a fantastic stretch of weather. Los Angeles, San Jose, and Phoenix are dominating our top city rankings for Tuesday and Wednesday, landing comfortably in the "Beautiful" category.
If you are in Phoenix catching the Giants and Diamondbacks series, expect highs in the 90s but with extremely dry air. Afternoon humidity levels are dropping below 15 percent. That dry heat feels great in the shade, but it does come with a caveat: the fire danger is elevated across Arizona and New Mexico today, so be mindful if you are camping or working outside.
Looking ahead to the weekend, this stable pattern holds firm. If you are traveling to Napa Valley for the BottleRock festival on Friday, expect clear skies and highs in the mid-70s.
East Coast Heat and Midwest Relief
For folks on the East Coast, it is going to feel like the middle of July. We are tracking near-record highs in the low to mid-90s from Virginia down through the Carolinas. But here is the good news: the air is mixing out nicely during the afternoon. That means the humidity is staying relatively low, keeping the air from feeling like a sauna. Places like Charlotte and Raleigh are still scoring in our "Beautiful" tier today despite the heat.
Speaking of the Carolinas and Virginia, cities like Greenville, NC, and Suffolk, VA, are currently riding an impressive 9-day streak of "Nice" or better weather.
Meanwhile, the Central Plains are finally getting a refreshing cooldown. A cold front is sweeping through Kansas and Nebraska, dropping temperatures 15 to 20 degrees cooler than they were over the weekend. Highs will top out in the comfortable 60s and 70s. It is a welcome break, assuming you can dodge the lingering rain showers.
Keep an eye on the sky, stay hydrated out West, and enjoy that sunshine if you have it.