Islanders look for ways to beat the heat as temperatures scorched the record books this week

Published 9:43 am Friday, July 31, 2009

After 28 years recording weather on Bainbridge Island, even Doug Olson was shocked by what he saw Wednesday: a thermometer hitting triple digits.

Temperatures were recorded as high as 108 degrees Fahrenheit on the island Wednesday, likely an all-time high.

“It’s just stunning,” said Olson, a Sakai Intermediate School teacher. “I know I’ve never seen that.”

Early this week, the National Weather Service issued an excessive heat warning and a stagnant air advisory, in effect through the end of today. The conditions increase likelihood of heat-related illness and pose a higher risk for people sensitive to pollutants, according to NWS.

Beginning today, cooler marine air was expected to start replacing a low flow in over Puget Sound, plunging temperatures into the 80s over the weekend.

Also surprising to Olson is the fact that island temperatures have matched numbers on the mainland this week.

“Usually we’re a little cooler than Bremerton and Seatac,” he said. “Not this time.”

As thermometers rose Tuesday, island agencies took action, opening air conditioned “cooling stations” at the police station, the Madison Avenue fire station and the senior center on Brien Drive.

Even at the height of the heat Wednesday, traffic at the stations was sparse. Senior center Director Jane Allan said the center sent out notices to its members and extended its hours, but few ventured out to the center.

“I think a lot of people, once they’re home, don’t want to come out again because it’s too hot out,” Allan said. “A lot of us just grin and bear it in front of a fan.”

After evaluating use Thursday, the city decided to continue the cooling stations through Friday.

Many islanders have been finding other ways to stay cool.

Throngs of people filled the beach at Fay Bainbridge on Wednesday while the Aquatic Center on Madison Avenue has been overflowing with business.

“Our open swims are packed with people,” Aquatic Center Manager Jamie Whitney said. “We either max out at the 200 people we allow, or we come really close. It’s never been like this.”

Despite record high temperatures, Bainbridge Fire Operations Chief Luke Carpenter said the department had received almost no reports of heat-related incidents by Thursday morning.

But fire danger remains high, he said. On Wednesday the relative humidity dropped to 25 percent.

“That’s a magic number for wildfires,” Carpenter said. “When it gets to these temperatures we can also start seeing spontaneous combustion, especially with things like beauty bark.”

Carpenter said islanders should exercise common sense and take care with cigarettes, barbecues, and yes, propane-burning weed torches, which have caused problems elsewhere in the county.

“I’d urge everyone to be very careful,” Carpenter said.