A strong ridge of high pressure brought well above normal temperatures to Western Washington, with a period of high temperatures in the upper 80s to low 90s. Many locations broke temperature records during this period. Eventually, onshore flow aided in the recovery back towards near normal temperatures to round out the latter half of the month.

Heat in EAST PUGET SOUND LOWLANDS, WASHINGTON
From 12-MAY-23 14:00:00 to 16-MAY-23 18:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Unknown

CWOP stations across the East Puget Sound Lowlands recorded well above normal temperatures for multiple days in mid-May, with high temperatures ranging from the upper 80s to low to mid 90s.

Heat in ADMIRALTY INLET AREA, WASHINGTON
From 13-MAY-23 14:00:00 to 16-MAY-23 18:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

The Admiralty Inlet area experienced a period of above normal temperatures with afternoon highs generally in the upper 70s to low 80s.

Heat in EVERETT AND VICINITY, WASHINGTON
From 12-MAY-23 14:00:00 to 16-MAY-23 18:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Locations in the vicinity of Everett experienced well above normal temperatures during the middle of the month, with high temperatures ranging from the low 80s to upper 80s.

Heat in HOOD CANAL AREA, WASHINGTON
From 12-MAY-23 14:00:00 to 16-MAY-23 18:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Unknown

An extended period of above normal temperatures affected the Hood Canal area during the middle of the month, with high temperatures ranging from the low 80s to low 90s.

Heat in LOWER CHEHALIS VALLEY AREA, WASHINGTON
From 12-MAY-23 14:00:00 to 16-MAY-23 18:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Unknown

Observations around the Lower Chehalis Valley recorded well above normal temperatures for the month of May, with highs ranging from the upper 80s to low to mid 90s.

Heat in TACOMA AREA, WASHINGTON
From 12-MAY-23 14:00:00 to 16-MAY-23 18:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Unknown

Observations around Tacoma recorded well above normal temperatures for several days around the middle of May, with afternoon high temperatures ranging from the low to upper 80s.

Heat in EASTERN STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA, WASHINGTON
From 13-MAY-23 14:00:00 to 16-MAY-23 18:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

A period of above normal temperatures were recorded across the East Strait of Juan de Fuca during the middle of the month. Afternoon high temperatures generally ranged from the upper 70s to low 80s.

Heat in SAN JUAN, WASHINGTON
From 14-MAY-23 14:00:00 to 16-MAY-23 18:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Unknown

Observations over the San Juan Islands recorded a period of above normal temperatures with afternoon highs ranging from the upper 70s to mid 80s.

Heat in WESTERN SKAGIT COUNTY, WASHINGTON
From 12-MAY-23 14:00:00 to 16-MAY-23 18:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Unknown

Observations across Western Skagit County recorded an extended period of above normal temperatures, with afternoon highs generally ranging from the low to upper 80s.

Heat in OLYMPICS, WASHINGTON
From 12-MAY-23 14:00:00 to 16-MAY-23 18:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Unknown

Observations across the lower elevations of the Olympics recorded an extended period of warm conditions with high temperatures in the 70s and 80s.

Heat in CASCADES OF PIERCE AND LEWIS COUNTIES, WASHINGTON
From 12-MAY-23 14:00:00 to 16-MAY-23 18:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Unknown

Observations across the lower elevations of the southern Cascades recorded a period of warm conditions with highs in the 70s and 80s.

Heat in CASCADES OF SNOHOMISH AND KING COUNTIES, WASHINGTON
From 12-MAY-23 14:00:00 to 16-MAY-23 18:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Unknown

Observations in the lower elevations of central Cascades recorded a period of warm conditions with high temperatures in the 70s and 80s.

Heat in CASCADES OF WHATCOM AND SKAGIT COUNTIES, WASHINGTON
From 12-MAY-23 14:00:00 to 16-MAY-23 18:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Unknown

Observations across the lower elevations of the north Cascades recorded a period of warm conditions with high temperatures in the 80s to low 90s.

Heat in SEATTLE AND VICINITY, WASHINGTON
From 12-MAY-23 14:00:00 to 16-MAY-23 18:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Well above normal temperatures lingered over the Seattle area for several days in mid-May, breaking multiple high temperature records. The Sea-Tac ASOS recorded the following record high temperatures:
May 12: Record high set at SEW of 82 degrees, breaking the previous record of 81 set in 1959.
May 13:  Record high set at SEW of 86 degrees, breaking the previous record of 85 set in 2018.
May 14: Record high set at SEW of 89 degrees, breaking the previous record of 88 set in 2018.
May 15:  Record high set at SEW of 88 degrees, breaking the previous record of 85 set in 2007.
May 16:  Record high set at SEW of 88 degrees, breaking the previous record of 85 set in 2007.

Heat in SOUTHWEST INTERIOR, WASHINGTON
From 12-MAY-23 14:00:00 to 16-MAY-23 18:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Well above normal temperatures were recorded at the Olympia ASOS in mid-May, breaking multiple high temperature records:
May 12:   Record high set at OLM of 85 degrees, breaking the previous record of 84 set in 1949.
May 13:   Record high set at OLM of 89 degrees, breaking the previous record of 88 set in 1973.
May 14:   Record high set at OLM of 90 degrees, breaking the previous record of 89 set in 1973.
May 15:    Record high set at OLM of 92 degrees, breaking the previous record of 85 set in 2007.
May 16:    Record high set at OLM of 92 degrees, breaking the previous record of 85 set in 2007.

Heat in WESTERN WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
From 12-MAY-23 14:00:00 to 16-MAY-23 17:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

An extended period of above normal temperatures were recorded across Western Whatcom County through mid-May. The following high temperature records were set during this period:
May 12:  Record high set at BLI of 79 degrees, breaking the previous record of 77 set most recently in 2002.
May 15:   Record high set at BLI of 86 degrees, breaking the previous record of 80 set in 2014.
May 16:    Record high set at BLI of 86 degrees, breaking the previous record of 80 set in 2014.

Heat in CENTRAL COAST, WASHINGTON
From 13-MAY-23 14:00:00 to 16-MAY-23 18:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

A period of well above normal temperatures were recorded across the Central Coast of Washington during the middle of May, breaking several high temperature records:
May 13:   Record high set at UIL of 90 degrees, breaking the previous record of 80 set in 1975.
May 14:    Record high set at UIL of 92 degrees, breaking the previous record of 83 set in 2014.
May 15:   Record high set at UIL of 86 degrees, breaking the previous record of 85 set in 2006.
May 16:   Record high set at UIL of 86 degrees, breaking the previous record of 85 set in 2006.

Heat in NORTH COAST, WASHINGTON
From 13-MAY-23 14:00:00 to 14-MAY-23 18:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

The North Coast of WA experienced well above normal temperatures in mid-May, breaking several high temperature records:
May 13:   Record high set at HQM of 89 degrees, breaking the previous record of 88 set in 1973
May 14:  Record high set at HQM of 91 degrees, breaking the previous record of 84 set in 2014
Hoquiam also set the all time highest May temperature, beating 87 degrees set back in 2007.

Heat in BREMERTON AND VICINITY, WASHINGTON
From 12-MAY-23 14:00:00 to 16-MAY-23 18:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Well above normal temperatures impacted the Kitsap Peninsula during the middle of May, with high temperatures each afternoon ranging from the upper 80s to low 90s.

Heat in BELLEVUE AND VICINITY, WASHINGTON
From 12-MAY-23 14:00:00 to 16-MAY-23 18:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

WADOT temperature sensors recorded well above normal temperatures through most of mid-May east of Lake Washington, with high temperatures generally in the upper 80s to low 90s.