by Patheresa Wells

Seattle summer can be a glorious time of year. To say we appreciate the season is an understatement. The one, possibly two, months the Emerald City gets of all-out sunshine is packed full of events. Pride, Juneteeth, block parties, and outdoor festivals fill weekends with reasons to explore the magic of the city without the rain. But over the past few years, the heat has hit in waves of extreme — and dangerous — temperatures. In June of 2021, for instance, extreme temperatures caused local road surfaces to buckle. According to a report issued by the Washington State Department of Health, “extreme heat events (heat waves) are predicted to happen more often and last longer due to our changing climate.”