It hasn’t been this hot in October since 1987. Will fall ever start in South Sound?

Following one of the hottest Septembers on record, Western Washington will soak up more sunshine and above-average temperatures to kick off October.

The area has never experienced consecutive 80-degree highs in October, according to the National Weather Service. But high temperatures were expected to be near 80 in Thurston County on Sunday, Oct. 1, and Monday, as well as Friday through Sunday, Oct. 7-9.

The region already logged a September that was hotter than it’s been since 1998. Prior to that heat, similar Septembers landed in 1967 and ‘57.

In fact, the bulk of the summer, from July 1 to Sept. 30, was the “warmest and driest … for many Western Washington locations,” NWS said Friday. Rainfall couldn’t jump the hurdle of even a measly half-inch in Seattle.

So, when will the rainy season arrive?

“The calendar says it’s October but the forecast will feel like August,” NWS said on Twitter Saturday morning.

The heat wave will last for a beaming 11 days, with highs reaching between 70 and 80 degrees every day in Olympia.

The likelihood of rain between now and then is slim, with an 8 percent or lower chance every day except Sunday, Oct. 9, when the percentage hikes to just 14 percent. Two days later it hops modestly to about a quarter.

Fall should feel a little more normal by Oct. 12, when expected temperatures drop — still in the high 60s — accompanied by a chance of rain.

Look on the bright side: At Paradise in Mount Rainier National Park, it’s going to be dry, dry, dry through at least next Friday, with temperatures comfortably in the 60s.

It seems the Mariners appreciate the sunshine, too.

This story was originally published October 3, 2022 at 10:22 AM with the headline "It hasn’t been this hot in October since 1987. Will fall ever start in South Sound?."