Heat hits Valley

The Valley didn't quite see record-breaking heat over the weekend, but locals shopped as if it had, stocking up on water, beer and other summer essentials.

At Snoqualmie Falls, Sunday's high was 87 degrees, falling short of the 93-degree record set in 1951, according to the National Weather Service. The Falls is the only Valley site where the NWS records temperatures.

Accuweather.com reported that Snoqualmie hit 92 degrees on Sunday, just shy of the 93-degree record. Normal for June 29 is 72 degrees.

Many people headed straight for the coolers at local shops.

"We were very, very busy," said Gary Will, who sold all sorts of cold refreshers Sunday at the Union 76 convenience store on Railroad Avenue in Snoqualmie.

"There were lots of kids stuffing their faces with ice cream," he said, adding that adults opted for energy drinks and beer. Bud and Bud Light were big sellers.

Local emergency responders reported that most people in the Valley stayed safely hydrated; Fall City Fire District had only one call for heat exhaustion, while the Snoqualmie Fire Department had none.

At Carmichael's True Value Hardware store, where strategically placed fans kept the air moving, customers bought barbecue accessories, kiddie pools, sprinklers, misters, tomato cages and coolers. They also shared their opinions on the weather: "Most people had something to say" about the heat, said owner Bryan Woolsey.

The last weekend of June was a stark contrast to the earlier part of the month, when harvests were delayed by cold weather, and snowplows worked mountain passes.

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