Bellingham faces extended heat wave, possibly its worst since 2021 heat dome
A strong high-pressure system is parked over the Pacific Northwest, bringing low humidity and unseasonably warm temperatures, weather forecasters said Thursday.
Bellingham has avoided the worst effects of several heat waves this summer, but a high of 93 is forecast for Saturday and 91 on Sunday, the National Weather Service said in an online briefing.
Inland locations of Whatcom County, such as the foothills and valleys of the North Cascades, could see highs well into the 90s and possibly in the triple digits, forecasters said.
“An unusually hot and continued dry pattern will remain over the region into early next week,” the weather service said.
Whatcom County is under a heat advisory from Friday until Tuesday of next week.
Moderate heat risk is forecast for Bellingham and surrounding areas from Friday until Wednesday of next week. A major heat risk is forecast for the Cascades foothills from Saturday through Monday.
“Saturday and Sunday look to be the warmest days across the area at this time,” the weather service said.
Making matters worse is that overnight temperatures aren’t likely to provide much relief, with lows from the mid-60s to upper 50s.
Bellingham last saw a high above 90 degrees on July 29, 2022, according to National Weather Service records. A similar heat dome in June 2021 brought three straight days of temperatures in the upper 90s and was blamed for the death of one woman.
This story was originally published August 22, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
