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Remembering Seattle’s hottest day on record

Seattle’s hottest day on record was June 28, 2021 when the Emerald City hit 108°.

People are swimming in the waters of Green Lake, which has a floating dock with a diving board in the middle. A kid is sitting on a paddle board, silhouetted by the sun. Sun light reflects in sparkles off the water's choppy surface.

In June 2021, people were turning to Seattle’s cooling centers, bodies of water, and pools to stay cool during the city’s hottest temperatures on record.

Photo by SEAtoday Staff

Summer is wrapping up in Seattle and we saw some pretty toasty temps. Even though this year’s highs broke some records, they still didn’t measure up to the famed heat wave of 2021.

We’re looking back at some of the headlines on the hottest day we’ve had here in Seattle.

The day the heat set records

Seattle’s hottest day on record took place on June 28, 2021, when temperatures hit a record-breaking 108°.

That sure puts this summer in perspective, huh? Seattle experienced its third hottest July on record this year, with the hottest summer temps reaching 97° on July 9. Whew.

What the headlines said

So, what else was going on in Seattle during the hottest days on record? Looking back, the city’s newspapers were reporting on widespread bird rescues, Mayor Jenny Durkan was sharing cooling center resources on Twitter (now X), and the end of King County’s mask directive.

Years later, papers covering the city’s historic heat dome claimed it left climate scientists and meteorologists in disbelief.

How to weather the weather today

Okay, so we’re not breaking records right now — but we still have some warm, sunny days left before fall fully sets in.

Stay cool while enjoying the late summer sun at Seattle’s secret beaches or by finding a shady spot at one of the Emerald City’s many local parks.

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